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LAST UPDATE | 28 Apr
GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING THE death of a woman who was stabbed at a house in Waterford city believe she died in a domestic dispute.
The woman has been named locally as Yveta Donovalova, a mother of three aged in her 40s who was from Czechia but had been living in Waterford for a number of years.
Gardaí and emergency services were called to the scene at the Grange Heights housing estate off John’s Hill at around 6.15pm yesterday.
Yveta was discovered with serious injuries. She was rushed to hospital, but such was the level of blood loss that she died a short time after arriving.
A man, also in his 40s, at the scene had also suffered some injuries in a struggle. A third person, a young girl, was also at the scene.
Gardaí established that the people in the house were all known to each other.
The man, who is also from Czechia, was arrested at the scene and was later treated in hospital for minor injuries before returning to the garda station for questioning.
He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 – he can be held for a maximum of 24 hours excluding rest periods and for medical treatment.
The scene is preserved for technical examination.
A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Waterford garda station.
A family liaison officer has been assigned to support the family of the deceased.
A neighbour of the family, Grace Drohan, told The Journal that there was “devastation” as news spread of the death throughout the housing estate yesterday evening.
Drohan said neighbours would rally around to help but said it is “going to have an effect on our community for a long time”.
Drohan added that Yveta was well liked in the community and had worked as a cleaner locally.
“She was very family oriented, she’d make a big fuss over the garden every Halloween,” Drohan said. “She was quiet and kept to herself but would always wave at you.”
Local Fine Gael councillor Jim D’Arcy told The Journal that there is “absolute shock” in the community.
“Your home is meant to be safe spot and that’s the real shock and horror of the whole thing,” he said when visiting the scene this morning.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.
Anyone who was in the Grange Heights area between 6pm and 6.30pm this evening and who may have camera footage, including CCTV or dashcam, is asked to provide this footage to investigating gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
A spokesperson said investigations into the matter are ongoing.
With reporting by Eoghan Dalton in Waterford city
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