Gardaí quiz man after discovery of woman’s body
The woman, named locally as Diane Burroughs, was 30-years-old and was understood to be originally from the Co Kildare town of Athy.
Her body was discovered in a first floor flat on the main street in Mountrath at 8pm on Saturday when gardaí were notified.
It is understood she may have been strangled, although gardaí were also probing whether she might have been smothered.
A man in his 30s living in an adjoining flat in the complex was arrested on Saturday and brought to Portlaoise Garda station for questioning in connection with Ms Burroughs’ death.
It is understood the man was the person who notified gardaí.
Ms Burroughs is believed to have lived in Mountrath for the past year but was said to have kept herself to herself, occasionally taking the bus to Portlaoise but rarely venturing out of the town.
Cllr Michael Lalor said he did not know the woman, but said the people of the town were shocked at her death.
“There is terrible upset in Mountrath — it’s in general a quiet town,” he said.
Neighbours of the woman were also said to have been deeply shocked at her death, with some remarking on how quiet and private Ms Burroughs was during her time living in Mountrath.
The man being questioned by gardaí is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. He can be detained for up to 24 hours before either being charged or released.
As gardaí attempted to piece together the circumstances of Ms Burroughs’ death, the scene where her body was discovered was being examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
Ms Burroughs’ body remained at the scene for a time before the arrival of the Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, who later carried out a postmortem examination.
