Gardaí confirm couple found dead in Limerick didn’t suffer violent death

By David Raleigh

Gardaí have confirmed a man and woman found in a decomposing state in a farmhouse yesterday did not die violently.

Gardaí have also confirmed there were no gunshot injuries to the bodies.

The State Pathologist Marie Cassidy has attended the scene in the house near Askeaton, Co Limerick, where the bodies of two people were discovered. Report by Jimmy Wolfe Video by Dan Linehan

It is believed they may now have been

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The bodies - which were discovered in a badly decomposed state - are believed to be that of convicted fraudster, Julia Holmes, 63, and her partner Thomas Ruttle, 56, a local farmer and mechanic.

The couple have not been seen for the past two months.

A gang of thieves who broke into the house in the early hours of yesterday found the corpses and alerted Gardaí for fear of being linked to the gruesome discovery.

It is suspected the bodies lay in Mr Ruttle's family home at Boolaglass, Askeaton since last March.

This afternoon Superintendent Tom O'Connor, who is leading the investigation, confirmed post mortems - carried out by State Pathoogist Dr Marie Cassidy last night - showed no sign of gunshot wounds to either body.

He also confirmed there were no signs of violence to the bodies.

The senior Garda did however confirm that a number of small exhibits had been removed from the house and were being sent to the Garda Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.

It is believed the exhibits are two small bottles which, according to reports this morning, may have been filled with a poison.

"We're keeping an open mind on that (poisoning). We have not established a cause of death yet," Superintendent O'Connor said.

"All these things will be explored. There are a range of pathological tests to be carried out yet. We still don't know who these people are," he stressed.

He added: "There were items and exhibits taken from the scene for pathological tests to be conducted. There may be nothing out of it."

"It's normal practise in any investigation," he added.

Superintendent O'Connor said the investigation had "advanced" overnight.

"We have had considerable advances in (tracing) the last known movements of the people involved. Over 20 people had called to the house in the last month. We have made considerable progress on that."

Thomas Ruttle and Julia Holmes

He confirmed the gang who found the decomposing bodies have been interviewed by Gardaí.

"Whoever they are, we have spoken to them," he added.

Superintendent O'Connor said the investigation had also made "considerable progress" in officially confirming the identities of the bodies.

"We are making enquiries abroad and in Northern Ireland this morning towards progressing identification," he said.

Mr Ruttle is believed to have a number of siblings living in England, while Ms Holmes is from Co Down.