Man held in connection to murder probe

A MAN is being questioned in connection with the murder of a woman in Cork at the weekend.

Detectives investigating the murder of Catherine Smart, 57, who was found beaten to death in her home in Midleton on Easter Sunday arrested the 47-year-old man in Cork city just after 4pm yesterday.

The man, who was known to the victim, was arrested under the provisions of section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and was taken to Midleton Garda Station. He can be held for up to 24 hours at which point he must be charged or released.

The arrest came as a team of up to 30 gardaí continued work on the murder investigation which was launched late on Easter Sunday.

Ms Smart’s semi-naked body was found at about 9.45am earlier that day lying in a pool of blood on the floor of the kitchen-cum-dining room of her terraced bungalow at Bailick Place, about a quarter of a mile from the town centre.

The house remained sealed off yesterday as Garda technical and forensic experts combed the premises for clues. They also extended their search to areas outside the house, and to nearby fields as door-to-door enquiries continued.

Gardaí also confirmed that Ms Smart telephoned gardaí at around 5am seeking help after she discovered she was locked out of her home. Gardaí responded to the address and had to rouse Ms Smart’s partner, who was asleep inside. They spoke to both parties before leaving the scene. But Gardaí responded to the address again at 9.45am after they were alerted by a man who made a telephone call. They found Ms Smart’s lifeless body in the house.

Gardaí have not released the results of a postmortem for “operational reasons”, but it is understood the victim suffered head injuries.

Supt Flor Horan, who is leading the investigation team, appealed to anyone with information to come forward. He said gardaí are particularly anxious to speak to people living at Bailick Place to establish if anyone heard or saw anything unusual in the hours between 5am and 9.45am on Sunday.

Gardaí believe Ms Smart was socialising in a number of pubs, fast food restaurants and houses in Midleton during that time.

* Gardaí have set up a special incident room in Midleton Garda Station at 021-4621550.