A man has been arrested following the death of a woman in Castlebar, Co Mayo early this morning.
Carmel Marrinan (61), a mother of seven who worked as a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital, was attacked in a house at Blackfort, Newport Road at about 4.00am.
Gardaí arrived on the scene to find her being treated by an ambulance crew. She had received knife wounds to her hands and a number of other injuries and was taken to Mayo General hospital where she was pronounced dead.
A 29-year-old man was arrested and held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. He was temporarily released and admitted to hospital for medical treatment. He has since been returned to Garda custody.
Local parish priest Fr Fergal Cunnane said the community was deeply saddened by Ms Marrinan’s death.
“The entire community is greatly saddened by her untimely death. There is widespread compassion for the family and colleagues of the deceased,” he said. “We keep in our prayers her family and all who journey with them at this tragic and sensitive time.”
The scene has been sealed off.