Suspect in a balaclava sought over murder

HOWTH MURDER: GARDAÍ MADE an appeal last night to anyone who may have seen a man in a balaclava to contact them following the death of a woman on Howth Head yesterday.

A major Garda investigation is under way after the discovery of the woman's body behind a house on Windgate Road. At a press conference at Clontarf Garda station yesterday, Supt John Gilligan said a witness reported seeing a man running from the back of the property.

The woman was named locally as Celine Cawley, managing director of Toytown Productions, a commercial production company. Her husband, Eamonn Lillis, is a producer with the company, and they have a teenage daughter.

Supt Gilligan said officers arrived at a house on Windgate Road on Howth Head shortly after 10am. They were responding to a 999 call that was made to the Fire Brigade. Gardaí discovered the woman in her 40s in a comatose condition, lying in the back patio area of the house, a detached bungalow, which sits in a quiet area of the Hill of Howth.

After gardaí and Fire Brigade officers attempted first aid, the woman was taken to Beaumont Hospital but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Supt Gilligan refused to confirm that a robbery had been reported. He also would not reveal the nature of the injuries that Ms Cawley suffered.

He said gardaí are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who may have seen a man wearing a balaclava run from the back of the house, through the garden towards the Carrickbrack Road.

"We know, from what we've heard, the man ran from down the back garden of the house, out on to a laneway and may have made his way in any direction after that but in particular the Windgate Road-Carrickbrack Road area," Supt Gilligan said.

The man is reported to be in his late 20s or early 30s and slight, but of strong build.

"The whole area is a quiet residential area and anyone who have been out may have seen something . . . it's a place that is frequented by a lot of people who walk for exercise . . . and there's always a chance somebody may have seen something."

The scene has been sealed off, and gardaí, who are carrying out house-to-house inquiries, will maintain a heavy presence over the next few days.

A postmortem will be carried out today by the State Pathologist. An incident room has been set up at Clontarf station and anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at 01-666 4833.