Hundreds attend murdered woman’s removal

A LARGE crowd of mourners attended the removal last night of murder victim Catherine Smart, whose body was found in her home in east Cork last Sunday morning.

Hundreds of mourners attended the removal which took place from John O’Farrell and Sons Funeral Home in Midleton to the nearby Church of the Most Holy Rosary. Among the gathering were a number of gardaí, including Superintendent Flor Horan, who is leading the investigation into the 57-year-old grandmother’s death.

A number of Ms Smart’s relatives also attended, most of whom still live in her native village of Ballyhooly, in north Cork.

Ms Smart had lived in Midleton for 27 years and was a popular member of the community.

Gardaí have interviewed more than 50 people since her body was discovered at her home at Bailick Court, Midleton, at 9.30am last Sunday.

They know that she died sometime after 5am that morning as she called gardaí for help at the time after getting locked out of her terraced house. It is believed Ms Smart died from head injuries and there was no sign of a forced entry at the house.

After state pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy carried out a postmortem gardaí launched a murder inquiry.

Last Monday afternoon they arrested a man in Cork city and took him to Midleton Garda Station for questioning.

He was later released without charge, although gardaí confirmed that they would be preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It is expected that file will take about a month to complete.

Ms Smart is survived by her daughters Mary and Michelle and son Tony who live in Wales. She also has two grandchildren.

She is also survived by her sisters Margaret, Ann, Alice and Geraldine and brother, Tony.

Her requiem mass will take place at the Church of the Most Holy Rosary in Midleton at 11am today, after which she will be buried in Ballyhooly churchyard.