Missing woman’s body lay hidden

THE body of a woman found in the back garden of a neighbour’s house three months after she disappeared was hidden from view behind high grass and a rock garden.

Rose Healy, who is thought to have died in December, was only reported missing three weeks ago.

Her body was discovered at the weekend, in the back garden of her next door neighbour’s home in Willow Brook in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

The separated mother of four lived alone and was known to have suffered from drink problems. She had previously appeared in court on a number of drink-related charges.

A post mortem was carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis but gardaí were unable to say yesterday exactly how she died. However, foul play was ruled out.

Gardaí first issued an appeal for information about Ms Healy on February 18, the same week she was first reported missing. She was last seen in early December.

Searches were carried out of Ms Healy’s house and garden as well as various other locations, including the canal. No searches were carried out of neighbouring gardens, said gardaí.

The body was discovered by a man in his 40s who was cutting the grass for the elderly person who lives in the house.

Ms Healy’s body was formally identified through dental records.