Phoenix Park victim may be from eastern Europe

GARDAÍ believe a woman found stabbed to death in a wooded area in the Phoenix Park may have been eastern European but are still attempting to identify her.

The female victim, described as being aged between 30 and 40 years, was found with eight stab wounds in her chest and upper body.

Gardaí made contact with embassies in recent days to help identify the woman or trace her last known movements. A picture of the victim was released last night.

It is thought the woman was killed at the spot where her badly wounded body was found, in a wooded area off Military Road near the park’s Chapelizod gate.

Despite suggestions that she was homeless, detectives are now trying to locate accommodation where she may have been staying.

“She had nothing on her possession which suggests some type of belongings must have been elsewhere,” said an investigation source.

CCTV footage leading in and out of the park is being examined and gardaí have also contacted hospitals to see if the woman had been recently released. Checks are also been made outside Dublin city in temporary accommodation facilities.

She was killed on Tuesday night, initial forensic tests reveal, and there are no signs of sexual assault.

“We really need to get her identity before we start understanding why or how she ended up there,” added the source.

Gardaí believe she had stayed overnight at the wooded area, which is on the edge of the popular “15 Acre” sports grounds, near the Chapelizod exit.

Gardaí still want to speak to the two people who initially discovered the body but who informed someone else before gardaí were finally contacted. The find was made at about 3.30pm on Wednesday.

The victim was fully clothed when found and described as 4ft 10in in height, medium build with brown hair, described as not quite shoulder length.

She wore a green or grey zip-up fleece over a striped red and blue rugby-type top. She wore three-quarter length loose fitting pink-type leggings. A pair of thick woolly socks were found nearby and her toes had gold nail varnish.

She wore a gold chain necklace, with a St Anthony-type medal tied with a piece of string. She also wore a silver cross chain-type necklace and gold hoop earnings, small and “creole” style.

Gardaí said a white scarf and black zip-up top, believed to be hers, were also found at the scene as well as a dark blanket.