Man detained in connection with brutal death of young mother

The main suspect for the brutal killing of a young Dublin mother was last night still in detention.

The man, from Kosovo, was arrested on Saturday and was being questioned at Blanchardstown Garda Station.

Anne Finnegan, a 26-year-old mother of two, died from stab wounds received during an attack in her home at Allendale Glen, Ongar at about 8.40pm on Friday.

It is understood Ms Finnegan and the man had been in a relationship, although she had received a barring order against him in recent weeks.

Gardaí received a 999 call at 8.53pm on Friday alerting them to the assault.

The victim’s brother, Karl Finnegan, who also lived in the house, was also injured during the attack. His injuries were described as not life threatening and he is in a stable condition at James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown.

It is understood he was able to provide gardaí with information about the identity of his sister’s killer.

Ms Finnegan’s children Lulu, 2, and Billy, 9 months, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, were asleep upstairs at the time of the attack.

After the young woman collapsed, she was driven by her attacker in a white Ford Focus to the nearby hospital in Blanchardstown where he abandoned her at the entrance to its emergency unit&. She was pronounced dead a short time later.

Gardaí subsequently found the alleged attacker’s vehicle abandoned in Co Louth.

Following a public appeal, the man came forward and was arrested. He was questioned at Blanchardstown Garda Station where he could be held for up to 24 hours under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.