Stabbing victim was a popular, kind nurse

A MOTHER-OF-SEVEN stabbed to death in her home was last night described as a well respected, caring and popular woman.

Carmel Marrinan, 61, suffered a number of slash wounds to her hands and body after being attacked on the stairs of her home in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

A man was arrested in the house at about 4am. He was initially taken into custody but then brought to hospital and later returned to gardaí for questioning.

Local parish priest Fr Fergal Cunnane said the community was deeply saddened by the nurse’s horrific death.

“The entire community is greatly saddened by her untimely death. There is widespread compassion for the family and colleagues of the deceased,” he said.

“We keep in our prayers her family and all who journey with them at this tragic and sensitive time.”

Gardaí were called to the house at Blackfort on the Newport Road in the early hours of the morning and found paramedics frantically trying to revive Ms Marrinan in the hallway.

It is understood she woke in the middle of the night after hearing noises downstairs and was attacked on the stairs when she went to investigate.

Ms Marrinan had worked as a nurse in the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar for 20 years, caring for elderly patients.

Local health chiefs described her as a much loved and respected member of staff.

“She was a caring, kind and hardworking individual who always had the interests of the patients at heart,” a Health Service Executive spokesman said.

“All her colleagues were deeply shocked at the tragedy and extend their heartfelt sympathies to her family on their sad loss.”

Local Independent councillor Frank Durcan said the town was shocked by thekilling.

“You couldn’t get a nicer family in the town. She was a perfect lady,” Mr Durcan said. “A more respectable family you couldn’t get, it’s very tragic. She was very popular. They were very involved in the community.”

The dead woman’s husband, Seamus, who worked as a civil servant, was heavily involved in gaelic football at underage level with local GAA club the Castlebar Mitchels.

He was in the house at the time of the attack.