Woman who died in Tullamore attack named

Gardai at the murder scene in Rahan outside Tullamore in County Offaly. 

The woman who died in an attack in Co Offaly yesterday has been named as Lorna Woodnutt.

Yesterday, Gardaí arrested a child after the victim was found dead in violent circumstances in Tullamore on Friday afternoon.

A boy known to Ms Woodnutt was arrested after reports of a violent incident around 1pm prompted gardaí and emergency services to rush to a house in the Midlands town.

The body of Ms Woodnutt, aged in her 40s, was discovered in the property. Gardaí said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

The boy, whose age was not specified, is currently being detained at a garda station in the Midlands.

The scene is currently preserved pending forensic and technical examination by the garda technical bureau, while the coroner and the office of the state pathologist have been informed, gardaí added.

A post mortem took place on Saturday afternoon.

An incident room has been established at Tullamore Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer and a family liaison officer both appointed.

Footage of the incident had allegedly been posted online in the immediate aftermath, with many Irish users of X, formerly known as Twitter, voicing their horror that videos relating to the incident had come up unprompted on their feeds.

A query to X owned by billionaire Elon Musk, about what measures it takes to prevent such violent imagery and videos popping up on people’s feeds, was met with a short response from its communications email that said: “Busy now, please check back later.” 

A garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána is aware that images from this incident are circulating on social media and messaging apps and is appealing to any person who receives these images not to share the content further.”

Gardai at the murder scene in Rahan outside Tullamore in County Offaly. The woman has been named as Lorna Woodnutt. 

Tributes

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mr Varadkar said: “I’ve heard the news of the really terrible events that happened, where a woman was killed and our condolences go to everyone affected and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the community.

“It does appear that in this instance the social media companies acted very quickly to take down any any images in any video and obviously I’d say to anyone not to share it.”

Independent TD for the Laois-Offaly constituency, Carol Nolan, expressed her condolences to the family.

“Violence of this nature is always a traumatising and shattering event, and I can only imagine what they are going through. The community will be deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy. I want to fully support the work of the gardaí in their efforts to establish the facts. My prayers are with all of those impacted by this terrible and dreadfully distressing event,” she said.

Fianna Fáil Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen said: "Allowing space for Gardai and various supports and services assist those impacted by such a terrible and shocking tragedy.

"Thoughts and prayers with the woman’s family and all impacted by today's horrific events."

Fine Gael Councillor in Tullamore Neil Feighery said the community will “rally around” the impacted families in the wake of the tragedy.

“We are, as a community, in absolute shock. We are still coming to terms with the news and we’re waiting to hear from An Garda Siochana but the reports are truly shocking,” he said.

“My thoughts and prayers are genuinely with the family impacted by this terrible, terrible, terrible tragedy.

“It’s something that is really hard to comprehend and please, God, the families will get the support and grace and blessings that they need at this horrendous time.

“Truly horrendous time for our community and for our town and for our area.

“I just wanted to send my own sympathies and give my sincerest sympathies – and everything that can be done by the Tullamore community will be done in the coming days and weeks.”