Gardaí have launched an investigation after a woman in her 30s died in violent circumstances with “serious neck injuries” in Clifden, Co Galway.
It is understood that the woman was a resident of emergency accommodation. Locals have told Gript that the centre where the deceased was living is being used to accommodate IPAS residents.
Gript understands that the incident involved two IPAS centre residents, and that the alleged perpetrator, a male in his 30s, had been involved in a fight with the female yesterday.
The woman is understood to have been an Iranian, aged 31, who had been staying at a hotel near Conamara being used as an emergency accommodation (IPAS) centre. The male who has been arrested is understood to be of Arab descent.
It is understood that the fight had been broken up by a local yesterday, who had seen the man fighting with the woman. It is confirmed that the victim and the man who has been arrested were known to each other.
An Garda Síochána said it is investigating all the circumstances of the fatal incident after the woman’s body was found today near Galway Road in Clifden.
Gript understands that the victim had been reported missing on Wednesday, one day before her body was found. A source said that the woman’s body was found in a local river.
Gardaí said they attended emergency residential premises, and that the body of the woman was discovered at a nearby location. Gardaí have confirmed that the fatal incident did not take place inside the emergency accommodation premises.
An adult male (aged in his 30s) was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and is currently receiving medical treatment. Both the deceased and the arrested are understood to be foreign nationals.
An Garda Síochána is not looking for any other person in relation to this incident at this time and is following a definite line of enquiry, the force said in a statement.
“The scene has been preserved for an examination by the Garda Technical Bureau,” it added.
“The Offices of the Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified. The body will be removed in due course, and a post mortem examination will be carried out. The results of the post-mortem examination will assist in determining the course of the ongoing investigation.”