Gardaí keep open mind on death of teenager

GARDAÍ are keeping an open mind on their investigation into the death of Sheola Keaney, whose body was found dumped in a laneway in Cobh, Co Cork on Sunday night.

The body of the 19-year-old was removed from the scene at about 3.45pm yesterday and taken to Cork University Hospital, where it was formally identified around teatime.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster carried out a post mortem examination and the results were due late last night.

Earlier, she spent almost an hour-and-a-half at the scene where the body had been found around 8.30pm on Sunday. The search focused on the laneway near Cobh Pirates rugby grounds after a handbag and shoes were found by a garda team seeking the teenager, who was reported missing to them late on Friday night.

It is believed the body was partially clothed and was covered in plastic but investigating gardaí were not willing to comment on any detail, except that the body was discovered in undergrowth on the laneway.

Inspector Martin Dorney said the next step in the investigation depended on the results of the post mortem.

“We’re keeping an open mind and following all lines of inquiry,” he said.

Inspector Dorney said nobody had been questioned in relation to the girl’s death.

However, numerous statements have been taken by gardaí in relation to Ms Keaney’s disappearance, since it was alerted to them at 1am last Saturday.

As the technical examination of the laneway was being carried out yesterday afternoon, detectives and uniformed gardaí continued their house-to-house inquiries throughout the day, between the area where the body was found and near the Glenanaar area where Ms Keaney lived, about half a mile away.

The 19-year-old, who was last seen walking in the Rushbrooke area of Cobh at about 10am on Friday, was the only child of Carol and Martin Keaney. Her father still lives in Co Tipperary, where it is understood Sheola went to school before moving to Cobh with her mother about two years ago.

Although gardaí were unable to discuss what they know of her last movements, it is believed she had been with friends in Tarrant’s pub in the town on Thursday night and a group of them later went to a house party in Rushbrooke.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Newtown or Rushbrooke areas between Friday morning and Saturday to contact them at Cobh Garda Station on 021-4908530.

Also, anybody who may have seen Sheola Keaney between 8pm on Thursday night and Friday morning is asked to contact the gardaí.