Gardaí search for bandaged man after woman killed in Limerick

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene where her body remains

Gardaí are appealing for information in  relation to the incident. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Gardaí investigating the violent death of a young woman in Limerick city are searching for a man seen entering a local shop with a bandaged hand.

Gardaí have interviewed staff at the shop and removed a number of items from the premises, which is situated close to the scene of the fatal assault on the woman, who was aged in her 20s.

The man entered the shop with one of his hands wrapped in a makeshift bandage before washing his hands and leaving the premises again.

The woman’s body was discovered inside an apartment block on Dock Road, just off O’Curry Street, at around 1.30pm on Tuesday.

Gardaí said the woman died in a “fatal assault” but did not disclose specific details of her injuries.

A garda forensic unit conducted a technical examination of the scene and investigators called in the state pathologist to perform a post-mortem.

Prayers were being said for the victim at the Redemptorist church, located a few streets away.

Fr Seamus Enright, the rector of the religious order in Limerick, said: “We are horrified that such violence has come to our own community.

“A death like this reminds us of how precious life is and how we must do everything we possibly can to protect and enhance life - and I’d appeal to anybody with information to cooperate with An Garda Síochána,” Fr Enright said.

There are about 16 apartments inside the building where the body was found, occupied by a mixture of both Irish and migrant single professionals and families.

Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea said: “It’s an unspeakable tragedy. Death by violence is always a terrible tragedy, but it’s definitely worse when the person is young, in their 20s, with their whole life in front of them.

"Limerick has come an awful long way from the bad old days of gang crime, and stabbings and assaults and murders, and we want to see Limerick continue to go forward."

Appealing for witnesses, a garda spokesman asked that anyone who has camera footage from the Dock Road and O’Curry Street areas of Limerick City from 1pm to 2pm on Tuesday would contact investigating gardaí at Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.