Walsh detectives plan reconstruction

Gardaí will this evening carry out a reconstruction of the events leading up to the disappearance of Waterford woman Meg Walsh.

Ms Walsh’s remains were discovered at around 3pm yesterday by search teams near Clock Tower in the city. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a post mortem examination on the body at Waterford Regional Hospital to try and determine a cause of death.

It is understood she may have been in the water for some time.

Fr Paul Murphy, a local parish priest who had been liaising with the Walsh family, said the local community was devastated by her death.

Ms Walsh was last seen in the early hours of October 1 after a night out with friends. She is believed to have disappeared while making her way to her home on Ballinakill Downs, Waterford.

A work colleague reported her missing when she failed to turn up on Monday morning. Her car was discovered two days later more than 2km from her home at Beach House, Ardkeen in the Uluru car park.

A blood-stained mat from the vehicle was later found dumped nearby. The vehicle, a Silver Mitsubishi Carisma Saloon, has since been sent to Dublin for forensic analysis.

It is also understood that Ms Walsh had previously told friends she felt in danger and had made an assault complaint to gardaí.

The dead woman’s 17-year-old daughter Sasha Keating and brother James Walsh last week made a passionate plea for information on her whereabouts.

They described the last two weeks as a horror show.

Sasha, who last saw her mother on September 18, described her as a bubbly person whose disappearance was completely out of character.

Neither were aware Ms Walsh felt she was in danger.

“She was always happy and very confident,” said Sasha. “She was always happy and a great mother and I love her to bits and just want her back.”

Hundreds of local people joined the search for the Cork native.

Local gardaí, who admitted early on in the investigation of being gravely concerned for her safety, drafted in the army and additional officers from Oxford and Tipperary to help them.

Volunteers from the Civil Defence, the Irish Red Cross and the Irish Mountain Rescue Association also joined the operation.

Superintendent Dave Sheahan said Ms Walsh had suffered severe trauma to her upper body and head before she plunged into the river.

“There is a person, or persons, out there in the Waterford city area who is fully aware of the fate and as to what happened to Margaret ‘Meg’ Walsh,” he said.

“I am again appealing to that person or persons to come forward to the Gardaí.”

Supt Sheahan said searches were continuing for Ms Walsh’s car keys, mobile phone and a remote control from her car.

Officers are keen to discover where her car was between 7am on Sunday October 1 until it was found at the Uluru car park a few days later.