Close-knit Waterford community 'in shock' as 'lovely lady' who died violently named locally

Deceased woman was originally from Czechia but had been living in Grange Heights for some years

The deceased was named locally as Yveta Donovalova, who was 43 and from Czechia. 

A mother of three teenage children found dead at her house in Waterford city on Monday evening is believed to have suffered a fatal injury from someone she knew.

The deceased was named locally as Yveta Donovalova, who was 43 and from Czechia. She lived in the house in Grange Heights for between 10 to 15 years, according to local reports.

She worked as a cleaner and was very well liked by neighbours and clients of hers in the estate, being described as a “lovely lady”.

A man has been arrested for questioning as part of the investigation into how she sustained the injuries.

The woman was rushed to University Hospital Waterford after being found with serious injuries at a property in Grange Heights housing estate in the city after 6pm. She was pronounced dead a short time later.

It is understood there were several other people living, or staying, in the rented house in recent years.

One neighbour, speaking on Déise Today on WLR, said that when she looked out her front window at 6.05pm, there were five squad cars, an unmarked car, two ambulances and a fire engine outside the woman’s house.

“She’s a lovely, lovely neighbour, lovely person, very friendly and very involved here,” the neighbour said.

She said the woman’s children were very friendly and were “very helpful” with neighbours, including with their shopping.

The neighbour said she saw the woman’s body being removed by stretcher into one of the ambulances.

“It is shocking,” she said, “it's very hard to take”.

Other neighbours told the programme that it was a very quiet house, with one saying there was “never any hassle” from it.

One neighbour said they saw a man being taken away from the scene by gardaí. Another man was subsequently seen bringing children away from the house.

The woman was rushed to University Hospital Waterford after being found with serious injuries at a property in Grange Heights housing estate in the city after 6pm.

The house has been sealed off for a detailed forensic examination, while a post-mortem examination is awaited at University Hospital Waterford.

It is understood the suspect is likely to remain in custody until later today, by which stage a decision will be made on whether to charge him or release him pending a file to the DPP.

Senior officers will be in contact with the DPP throughout the day.

Local priest Fr Liam Power said that the community of Grange Heights is devastated, with neighbours of the woman telling him she was a lovely, friendly person who always had a smile on her face when meeting people.

He added: "She was an extremely hard worker and was totally devoted to her children."

He said there is a great sense of shock in the area.

Prayers will be said for her at masses in the parish of St Benildus and St Mary's in the coming days, he said.

Neighbours heard the woman screaming on Monday and alerted gardaí, local Fine Gael councillor Jim Darcy said.

“Her neighbours are devastated. She was very family-oriented. She loved her bit of gardening. She was very friendly and would always say hello to them.

“You’re supposed to be safe in your own home," Mr Darcy said.

'She was a lovely person'

Independent councillor David Daniels, who is from the area, said that he has never known of anything like this happening in the estate before, which is quiet and peaceful with a strong residents' association.

The deceased had been living in the estate for years with no known incidents at her home before, he said.

“I’m on the ground in that estate, and nothing has been brought to my attention. It’s a really quiet, mature estate.

“She was a lovely person who was there a number of years. The locals are shocked to get this news,” he said.

Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche brought flowers to the woman’s home this morning.

A garda cordon was still in place, and garda forensic teams were working to gather evidence.

“The community is in shock,” Ms Roche said.

“It’s a very old, established, quiet area of the city. It has an old, established population.

“It’s awful for her and her family,” she said.

A garda statement added: “A man (40s) was arrested at the scene and is currently detained at a Garda station in the Waterford Division under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

"The scene is currently preserved for technical examination. A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation. An incident room has been established at Waterford Garda station. A Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to support the family of the deceased.” 

Gardaí appealed for witnesses to come forward: “Anyone who was in the Grange Heights area on Monday, April 27 between 6pm and 6.30pm who may have camera footage, including CCTV or dashcam, is asked to provide this footage to investigating gardaí."