Gardaí to begin murder inquiry after deaths of mother (27) and daughter (8) in Kerry

Gardaí were last night set to begin a murder inquiry after postmortems confirmed that a mother and her daughter died violent deaths after being attacked in their rented home in Killorglin, Co Kerry.

The bodies of Lithuanian national Jolanta Lubiene (27) and her daughter Enrika (8) were found by gardaí at about 8.30pm on Sunday night when they called to the two-storey semi-detached house at Langford Downs, about a kilometre from the centre of Killorglin.

For operational reasons, gardaí last night did not wish to comment on the results of the postmortems on the mother and daughter conducted by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. It is understood, however, that both victims suffered serious stab wounds.

No forced entry
The body of Ms Lubiene, dressed in her day-time clothes, was found in the kitchen while the body of her daughter was lying face down in an upstairs bedroom. Enrika's dog was also in the room.

Garda sources confirmed that there was no sign of forced entry into the house suggesting the possibility that Ms Lubiene may have known and trusted her killer and may have admitted the person to the house in the belief that neither her nor her daughter were at risk. There was no evidence of anything having been stolen.

Gardaí were last night trying to establish when Ms Lubiene and Enrika were last seen alive. The last confirmed sighting of Ms Lubiene was at about 4pm on Friday when she was seen in Killorglin heading for home.

The alarm was raised on Sunday evening when a Lithuanian friend of Ms Lubiene called to the house and was unable to contact her. She notified gardaí who went to the house and immediately cordoned off the scene after finding the bodies.

It is understood that Ms Lubiene's employers at St Joseph's Nursing Home in Killorglin contacted her sister Kristina on Saturday when she failed to show up for work and Kristina later contacted Ms Lubiene's husband, Marius Lubys, who was in Sweden.

Local people said Mr Lubys, who had moved into the estate with Ms Lubiene and their daughter about seven years ago, had gone to Sweden seven months ago for work.

He returned to Killorglin about two months ago for a week and then went back to Sweden.

Kristina's husband, Vaidas Kulevicius, yesterday told reporters that Mr Lubys had returned to Ireland from Sweden yesterday afternoon after being informed of the deaths. It is understood he is due to meet gardaí today.

Indication
Gardaí are hoping the postmortems will give them some indication as to when the mother and daughter were killed. They are not ruling out the possibility that they were killed on Friday evening and may have been dead for up to 48 hours before they were found.

Garda technical teams carried out a forensic examination of the scene following the removal of the bodies to Kerry General Hospital at 6pm yesterday.

They have not found any knife which might have been used in the killings.

It is believed that Ms Lubiene was due to leave Ireland permanently next month and return with Enrika to Lithuania to see her father who is seriously ill.

There have also been reports that Ms Lubiene and her daughter were due to move to Sweden to join Mr Lubys.

Garda appeal
Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Langford Downs area on Friday or Saturday or who have any information that can assist gardaí to contact them at Killarney Garda station on 064-6631222.