'It's a terrible tragedy': Woman fatally stabbed only moved to Cork few months ago

A man in his 40s who was arrested at the scene is being detained for questioning in connection with the incident

A garda cordon in position at a house at Cardinal Court, Wilton Cork after the body of a female was found shortly after 10pm on Saturday. Picture: Larry Cummins

The 38-year-old woman who died after being stabbed in Cork last night was an Indian national who moved to Ireland just a few months ago. She was the mother of a five-year-old boy who was not in the house at the time of the incident.

Emergency services rushed to the house at Cardinal Court in Wilton, on the southside of the city, after the alarm was raised shortly after 10pm. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. It is understood she was found in a bedroom in her home

Her body remained at the property overnight and was removed this morning to the nearby Cork City Morgue at Cork University Hospital.

An autopsy was scheduled to get underway at 12 noon by Dr Linda Mulligan.

Meanwhile, the suspect in the case, a 41-year-old Indian man known to the woman, was being questioned in Togher garda station.

He was arrested at the scene last night and can be held for up to 24 hours. He was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The woman’s young child was not at the scene last night, according to gardaí. A family liaison officer has been appointed.

The woman arrived in Ireland from India in recent months and was working in Cork city.

One local man said that the area is home to a 'diverse' community as it is extremely close to Cork University Hospital and relatively close to Munster Technological University.

The elderly man said that a number of medics and professionals from overseas reside in Cardinal Court and surrounding areas in Wilton and nearby Bishopstown.

An Indian lady, who lives close to the red brick semi detached home where the woman died, said that she was shocked to hear of the passing of a mother of one in such violent circumstances.

"I was thinking of the time in India that her family would have been called. It would have been around 4am there. It must have been such a shock to get that call. It is such a long way way. I don't know her (the dead lady) but when you hear that she has a young son. That is upsetting."

Picture: Larry Cummins

The woman said that members of the Indian Community in Cork plan to join representatives of their Embassy, and the wider community, in assisting the loved ones of the deceased. She said that every effort will be made to assist the relatives of the deceased on practical matters such as repatriation of the body to India.

Meanwhile, two other Indian women, one holding her young daughter, said that they were deeply upset to hear of the death of the woman in a house in the cul de sac.

They said that they did not know the deceased. However, they stressed that it was hard not to moved by the thought of a five-year-old boy losing his mother. One of the women said that the area is home to a lot of rental accommodation and that she did not know many of her neighbours.

Another young Indian woman said that she only moved to Ireland in recent days and was shocked to hear of such an incident occurring in the estate.

Seamus Twomey, who lives in Cardinal Court, said that it was "tragic news" and the "last thing you would expect to wake up to" in the estate.

"It is very sad. A very tragic event. It is not good news for the area."

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy said his thoughts and condolences were with the family of the dead woman. He said: “It is a terrible tragedy in what is a quiet area normally.”

A forensic examination of the scene has been carried out by members of the Garda Technical Bureau. The property remained sealed off today and gardaí were maintaining a presence outside.

Gardaí are also carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the Cardinal Court area.

Anyone with any information, or persons who heard a disturbance at the property, are asked to contact Togher Garda Station on [phone] or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. Alternatively members of the public who may have information relevant to the garda probe can contact any Garda station.