Gardai in Cork are hoping to establish precisely how a mother of four was fatally injured on Friday night last, once results become available from a post-mortem examination which was carried out yesterday.
The woman was named yesterday as Ms Christina Hackett (32), of St Finbarr's Road, Cork. A man who was questioned about the shooting was released yesterday without charge after being held for most of the weekend. A file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Yesterday the assistant State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, performed a post-mortem on the body at the Cork University Hospital. It is hoped that the results of the examination may indicate how Ms Hackett received a gunshot wound in her head.
Specifically, gardai are hoping to learn more about the trajectory of the single bullet which caused the head wound and the proximity of the weapon to Ms Hackett's head. They are also hoping to learn whether gunpowder stains were on her hand after she was admitted to hospital.
The incident occurred at Wellington Road, Cork, in the early hours of Friday morning when one shot was discharged from a revolver. After the shooting Ms Hackett was driven to the Mercy Hospital, Cork, by a man who was with her in a van at the time. She was immediately put on a life-support machine. She died there on Saturday evening.
According to Garda sources the 31-year-old man, a father of three children who has not been named, was in a relationship with Ms Hackett but they were not married. He was questioned under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Yesterday Garda divers were searching the Lee river for a gun but so far the search has proved unsuccessful. It is understood the dead woman's children are 3 to 11 years old.