THE BODY of a 78-year-old woman was found on Friday evening by a relative.
The woman was living in New Road Thomondgate in Co. Limerick when she was found strangled and tied up following a robbery.
Gardaí had reason to believe her death was suspicious and are looking into the possibility that the elderly woman had been strangled to death.
The woman’s bungalow was ransacked, and her body was found with her hands tied. The woman has now been named as Rose Hanrahan.
The woman had been living alone since the death of her husband 5 years ago and was well-known in the town she was living before her untimely death.
Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea commented on the passing of the woman: "She was a living saint. Rose and Mick were very personal friends of mine. Rose was an absolute lady. I walked down to the house tonight and everybody I met there was stunned."
Derek Smart of an Garda Síochána is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
It's said the Gardaí are using DNA databases to determine who attacked Mrs Hanrahan before her death, and looking for prints of the thieves who barged into her home and stole material possessions before murdering her.
The body of Mrs Hanrahan was brought to University Hospital Limerick.
