Gardaí trace last movements of murdered Meg

GARDAÍ in Waterford will this morning launch a fresh appeal for information in tracing the final movements of murdered mother-of-one Margaret (Meg) Walsh.

The remains of the 35 year old were taken from the River Suir on Waterford’s quay front on Sunday afternoon, two weeks after she went missing from her home, about 3km away in Ballinakill.

A post-mortem examination showed Ms Walsh had suffered severe trauma to her head and upper body.

Forensic teams spent all of yesterday combing for clues at her home in Ballinakill, about 2km on the Dunmore side of Waterford city.

There was a large garda presence in the quiet estate on the edge of the city from early morning. Specialist dogs trained in tracking traces of blood were brought in from Wales to assist in the murder probe.

Neighbours stayed indoors, anxious to avoid the large media presence.

Gardaí remained at the scene throughout the night and the search for evidence is expected to continue until this afternoon.

Yesterday evening, gardaí said a partial reconstruction which involved placing a car identical to Ms Walsh’s in a city car park had yielded some fresh information.

But they hope this morning’s press briefing in the city might lead to fresh information.

Ms Walsh’s mobile phone, her car keys and a fob from her key ring have still to be located.

Meanwhile, in Ms Walsh’s native Kilavullen, plans are progressing for a heart-breaking farewell to the bubbly young woman.

Among the chief mourners at tonight’s removal of her remains from the mortuary at Fermoy hospital to St Nicholas’ Parish Church in Killavullen will be Ms Walsh’ s17-year-old daughter, Sasha Keating, her brother, James Walsh, and parents, Maurice and Nuala Walsh. She will be buried in Bweing cemetery after noon Mass at St Nicholas’s tomorrow.

Ms Walsh’s brother, James, appealed for privacy.

“We are most grateful to the media for all the help they have given us in the search for Meg. But now that we are preparing for her funeral, we would ask them to respect our privacy. We want to bury our sister with dignity,” he said.