Friends feared fraudster tried to sell partner’s home

Friends of Thomas Ruttle had become concerned that his fraudster partner, Julia Holmes, had been trying in recent months to sell his family home in Co Limerick and move to Spain.

Both were found dead in Mr Ruttle’s home on Monday, after the alarm was raised by intruders who were carrying out a burglary there.

Ms Holmes, 63, misled local people into believing that she and Thomas, 56, had got married abroad.