Gardai in Galway have confirmed that a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the murder of a Connemara teenager, Siobhan Hynes, last December.
The 17-year-old Leaving Certificate student was killed in the early hours of December 6th and her body was found on a beach near Carraroe that afternoon.
Ms Hynes, from Leitir Mor, had been enjoying a night out with her sister and friends when she became separated from them after deciding to go to a takeaway shortly before 1 a.m.
Her fleece jacket and silver locket was found near her body, indicating that she had struggled with her assailant.
Up to 50 gardai took part in the investigation, which caused deep shock in Connemara. A number of people were taken in for questioning and forensic investigations were carried out.
A senior Garda spokesman confirmed that the file had been sent to the DPP within the past week, and gardai are now awaiting a final decision on whether charges are to be brought in the case.