A murder investigation may be launched today after gardai in Galway receive the results of a post mortem into what they termed a "very suspicious" death of a woman in the city yesterday.
The fully-clothed body of the 48-year-old was found with injuries by relatives at her home in Cruachan Park, Rahoon, shortly after 4 p.m.
The mother of five, who has not been named, was found in the hallway of her two-storey house. Relatives broke into the house after becoming concerned because they had not seen her since Friday.
Gardai from Salthill have preserved the scene around the detached house and cordoned off the immediate area. The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, is expected to carry out a post-mortem examination early this morning.
Supt Jim Sugrue said inquiries into the death were at an early stage but that a murder investigation could not be ruled out. "We have an open mind on the investigation."
The woman, who was separated from her husband, lived alone. She had five grown-up children.