Gardaí await toxicology results after Cork mother’s death

Children found 29-year-old mother-of-four from Bandon unconscious in sittingroom

Gardaí investigating the death of a 29-year-old mother-of-four in west Cork are awaiting the results of toxicology tests which they say will determine the course of their investigation.

Annette O'Shea Foley was found in the sitting room of her house at Richmount Court in Bandon at around 9.30am on Friday morning by neighbours after they were alerted by her young children.

Ms O'Shea Foley lived at the terraced house with her children, Kian, Darragh, Ava and Kacie, who range in age from 10 to three. It is understood the children found her and were unable to rouse her.

Neighbours in turn alerted the emergency services and paramedics attended to Ms O’Shea Foley but she was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was removed to Cork University Hospital.

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State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a postmortem examination at the hospital on Saturday afternoon. However, it is understood that the results of the postmortem were inconclusive. Gardaí are hoping that toxicology tests on samples taken at the postmortem will assist them in their investigation.

Gardaí have also spoken to local GPs as it is known that Ms O’Shea Foley visited a doctor in the days prior to her death. They are hoping her medical history may assist them in their inquiries.

Door-to-door inquiries have been carried out to try to establish when she was last seen alive, and gardaí have a confirmed sighting of Ms O’Shea Foley by an adult at around 10.30pm on Thursday.

It is understood that there was no sign of forced entry at the house but gardaí are preserving the scene while technical experts forensically examine the house.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times