Gardaí in body in suitcase murder inquiry search Stoneybatter house

GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the discovery of a woman’s body in a suitcase dumped on a Dublin street last night idenitified a house in Stoneybatter in the north inner city in connection with her murder.

The body of Rudo Mawere (26), a business student from Malawi, was discovered by a passerby on St David’s Terrace, Blackhorse Avenue, early on Sunday.

Gardaí believe the 2ft by 4ft bag was abandoned at about 7pm on Saturday. They are investigating if the woman was killed close to where it was discovered.

Ms Mawere was fully clothed and had a plastic bag over her head when found. A postmortem examination showed that she died as a result of asphyxiation.

It is understood her body was walked to the spot where the suitcase was abandoned, beside a number of wheelie bins close to McKee Army barracks and the junction of Blackhorse Avenue and North Circular Road.

Last night a property at Aughrim Street, about a kilometre from where her body was found, was being forensically examined in an attempt to determine if the victim was killed there. Gardaí are also interviewing neighbours in the area.

Gardaí yesterday examined CCTV footage from nearby shops in an attempt to identify those who may have been in the area on Saturday evening.

Consular staff at the Malawian embassy in London, who are liaising with gardaí, yesterday contacted the woman’s family with a view to identifying and repatriating her remains.

Earlier yesterday, Garda Supt James Hynes of the Bridewell Garda station asked that anyone who may have seen a couple having an argument in or around the Blackhorse Avenue, Stoneybatter, Aughrim Street and Prussia Street areas on Saturday afternoon or early evening to come forward.

“We are anxious to talk to anybody who may have seen an altercation between a male and female,” he said.

Gardaí are also seeking to speak to anyone who may have seen somebody carrying or pulling a large suitcase in the area on Saturday evening.

It is believed that Ms Mawere, who lived in a flat on Leinster Road in Rathmines, may have been in a relationship with an African man, but gardaí are keen to speak to anybody who knew her. Gardaí interviewed a flatmate, who last saw her on Saturday afternoon, yesterday.

The Africa Centre, a charity promoting social inclusion of African people in Ireland, condemned the “gruesome” killing of Ms Mawere.

“The death of this lady is shocking and dumping her in a suitcase is unimaginable,” the Africa Centre’s chief executive Eric Yao said.

Mr Yao has asked for anyone with information about Ms Mawere or the circumstances surrounding her death to contact the Africa Centre or gardaí. He was confident that the matter would be fully investigated and that those responsible would be brought “to book” by gardaí.

Anyone who may have seen unusual or suspicious behaviour in or around Blackhorse Avenue or North Circular Road on Saturday is asked to contact the Bridewell Garda station on 01-666 8200, the Garda confidential line at 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.