LAST UPDATE | 15 Jul 2023

A MAN HAS been arrested after a 38-year-old woman died after sustaining a stab wound at a house in Cardinal Court in Wilton in Cork city yesterday evening. 

Emergency services rushed to the scene after the husband of the woman raised the alarm shortly after 10pm.

The woman was pronounced dead at the property on the southside of the city.  

The body of the deceased was removed from her home at 10.40am. A postmortem examination will follow at Cork University Hospital. A family liaison officer has been appointed. 

A forensic examination of the scene has been carried out by members of the Garda Technical Bureau. It is understood the woman was found in a bedroom in her home. 

The property remained sealed off today and gardai were maintaining a presence outside. A gold car was in the drive of the house. 

The young son of the deceased is being cared for in the aftermath of the tragedy. It is understood he was not in the property when his mother was stabbed. Investigations are ongoing. 

Meanwhile, a man in his 40s who was arrested at the scene is being detained at Togher Garda Station on the southside of Cork city for questioning in connection with the incident. He can be held for up to 24 hours. The man was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. 

Gardaí are hoping that neighbours will be able to assist them in their investigation.

Anyone with any information, or persons who heard a disturbance at the property,  are asked to contact Togher Garda Station on (021) 494 7120 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.

 

Reaction

The woman, who has yet to be named, is originally from India.

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 woman, 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 but when you hear that she has a young son. That is upsetting.”

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.” 

Meanwhile, local woman Ursula Moriarty told Red FM News that she was shocked to hear of the incident. 

“It is  an awful thing to happen. Dreadful. We have a lovely locality here. It is usually very quiet and peaceful. The baby (her son) wasn’t in the house thanks be to God. We have lovely people here.”