Gardaí investigating suspected murder of woman, 30s, in Cork suburb

Garda crime scene investigators enter a house at Innishmore Park, Ballincollig Cork on Friday night. Picture: Larry Cummins

Gardaí are investigating after a woman's body was found in a Cork suburb under suspicious circumstances.

Emergency services were called to what was initially described as a cardiac arrest at a property in Innishmore Park, Ballincollig, after 5pm on Friday evening.

The woman, aged in her early thirties, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman was found with injuries in the home and died a violent death, it is understood. No arrests have been made yet.

The woman's body remains at the scene but will be taken to the morgue at Cork University Hospital, it is understood.

An autopsy is expected to take place tomorrow.

A Garda cordon at Innismore Park, Ballincollig, Cork, on Friday night. Picture: Larry Cummins

Colm Kelleher, a Fianna Fáil councillor who lives in Ballincollig, said he heard sirens in the village after 5pm.

"I'm hearing very early reports of a suspected murder in the village this evening. I'm absolutely shocked.

"We're not used to something like this in the village of Ballincollig.

"I'm hearing very early, preliminary reports and I hope they're untrue. But if it does transpire to be correct, my thoughts and prayers go to the person and the family in question.

"If it does transpire to be true, it’s very sad and I appeal to anyone with any information to contact gardaí."

Local Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch who lives in Innishmore, said he has spent the evening with residents near the scene.

Mr Lynch said the community had been left deeply shaken. “In the first instance, my thoughts go out to the victim and their family.

“This is a truly shocking incident, and it has caused major upset in what is a close, tight‑knit community.

“As a lifelong resident of the estate, I have spent the evening with friends and neighbours, and all I can say is that everyone here in Innishmore is shell‑shocked."

Gardaí said that they are at the very early stages of investigating "a serious incident" and cannot comment further at this time.

More to follow....