Man arrested after woman’s body found in Co Wicklow shed

Gardaí are expected to launch a murder investigation on Wednesday following the discovery of a woman’s body on the grounds of a property in Co Wicklow.

The body had not been formally identified on Tuesday night but it is understood to be that of Anne Shortall (47) who was last seen at Leitrim Place in Wicklow town at 3.55pm on Good Friday.

A missing person alert was issued by gardaí on Monday following Ms Shortall’s disappearance. She was described as being 5ft 2ins in height, of slight build, with blue eyes and short blond hair. When last seen she was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.

Ms Shortall’s disappearance had led to a major search in Co Wicklow over the past couple of days with more than 100 people coming to the aid of gardaí, the Coast Guard, and the Civil Defence.

Arrested

Her body was found by a team of gardaí under a tarpaulin in a shed adjacent to a house in Ashford, Co Wicklow, during the course of Tuesday afternoon.

A 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene. A Garda source said detectives were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident. State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy arrived at the scene some hours after the discovery and carried out a preliminary investigation before the body was later removed. The Wicklow coroner was also notified.

A postmortem examination is due to take place on Wednesday morning, and the Garda investigation will be informed by its results. Pathologists will seek to determine the circumstances of Ms Shortall’s death and establish whether she died violently.

It was not clear on Tuesday night whether a weapon may have been involved or the length of time the body had been in the shed.

At the scene, a small contingent of Garda forensic officers could be seen through the open door of the shed, moments before local undertakers emerged wheeling a trolley, which appeared to be carrying the body underneath a brown cloth.

The trolley was wheeled across a field between two cottages to where a waiting undertaker’s grey Mercedes estate was parked beside a Garda van.

Gardaí were last night continuing to search a second site, at The Morrough on the northern side of Wicklow town, close to the area where Ms Shortall was last seen.

Appeal

The arrested man is being detained at Wicklow Garda station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information in relation to the investigation to contact Wicklow Garda station on 0404-60140, the Garda confidential line on 1-800-666-111 or any Garda station.