Man questioned after woman, 50, beaten to death in home

A 21-year-old man is being questioned by gardaí after a woman was brutally beaten to death in the early hours of yesterday.

The man was arrested in Bray, Co Wicklow, at 11am yesterday after Lynn Cassidy, aged 50, was found dead at 1.30am.

It is understood that Ms Cassidy, who worked as a counsellor, had been living at the Deepdales Estate on Southern Cross Rd for three years with her son, who is understood to have health issues.

The 21-year-old man was arrested under section four of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 yesterday morning and was continuing to be questioned last night.

Initial investigations by Garda forensic teams have suggested that Ms Cassidy may have died from blunt-force trauma to her head, while there was no sign the house had been broken into before the incident occurred.

Forensic teams and deputy State pathologist Michael Curtis were still examining the scene last night.

Throughout yesterday, investigating gardaí carried out house- to-house enquiries in the Deepdales Estate in an attempt to find clues as to what happened.

Neighbours described the location as “a real family area”, adding they were shocked to find the Garda scene yesterday morning.

A Garda spokesperson said: “A 21 year old man was arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Bray Garda Station.”