Man, 23, arrested in Carlow murder investigation

GARDAÍ launched a murder investigation yesterday into the fatal stabbing of a mother of one in Carlow.

The Garda investigation was upgraded after a postmortem examination was carried out on Ciara Campbell.

Last night, a 23-year-old man was arrested. He was being held at Carlow Garda Station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Ms Campbell was stabbed to death in the bathroom of her home, while her four-year-old son was in a nearby room.

Her body was discovered at her rented house on Ardmore Gardens, in Carlow town, on Monday afternoon.

“The postmortem is complete and gardaí have launched a murder investigation,” a Garda spokeswoman said last night. She said the postmortem results were not being released for operational reasons and the victim’s identity was not being released until a positive identification took place. The victim was named locally by friends and neighbours, who congregated at Ms Campbell’s rented home after her murder.

A 23-year-old man was at the house when emergency services arrived at around 1.30pm on Monday. He had minor injuries and was taken to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny.

Gardaí were yesterday waiting for the all-clear from doctors before interviewing him.

Ms Campbell was originally from Belfast and had moved to Carlow some eight months ago.

It is understood she had recently broken up with a boyfriend and had been working in a local store. Friends of Ms Campbell said her son, Jamie, was due to celebrate his fifth birthday next week. He was initially taken to St Luke’s Hospital but was released and is being cared for by relatives.

Ms Campbell’s body was found with multiple stab wounds in the upstairs bathroom of the two-storey house.

Gardaí sealed off the scene pending the arrival of the Garda Technical Bureau and assistant State pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis. He carried out a preliminary examination at the scene. The Garda Technical Bureau is understood to have removed a number of items from the scene

Gardaí in Carlow remained tight-lipped yesterday and they have not yet appealed for any information in relation to their investigation.