GARDAÍ have arrested a man after a woman was found dead with severe injuries at a home in Co. Louth this morning.
The middle-aged woman's body was found shortly after 11.30am on Tuesday at a house in the Clonmore Estate in Ardee, around 20 km (12 miles) southwest of Dundalk.
The property has been cordoned off for an examination of the scene by the Garda Technical Bureau and investigators say it appears the woman suffered extreme injuries in what was a "very violent death".
Gardaí arrested a 32-year-old man in the Ardee area at around 1pm after a number of searches were carried out this afternoon.
The man, who was known to the victim, is being held at Drogheda Garda Station.
Detectives have upgraded their probe to a murder investigation in the wake of the arrest, according to RTÉ News.
The woman's body remained at the scene this afternoon.
However, the Office of the State Pathologist has been informed and a post-mortem is expected to take place shortly.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone in the Clonmore Estate who may have seen or heard anything this morning up until 11.30am to contact them.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.