Young Mayo mother was murdered, say gardaí

Gardaí have begun a murder investigation following the discovery of the body of a mother of two in Mayo at the weekend.

The body of 28-year-old Sarah Staunton was found in a house in a rural area outside the village of Balla at about 12pm on Saturday.

An autopsy was carried out throughout the day yesterday and the results of the examination are now with gardaí. The cause of death is not being released for operational reasons, but gardaí have confirmed they are now conducting a murder investigation.

Detectives are continuing to question a man in relation to the death. The 22-year-old man remained in custody at Castlebar Garda Station last night. He was arrested in the Castlebar area on Saturday night under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for up to 24 hours.

Assistant state pathologist Michael Curtis carried out a preliminary examination of the body at the scene on Saturday. It was then removed to Mayo General Hospital where a full autopsy was carried out for much of the day yesterday.

The house where Ms Staunton’s body was found was cordoned off while the forensic examination was being carried out.