A Garda investigation was continuing yesterday into the discovery of the body of a mother of three on the outskirts of Tralee, Co Kerry, on Wednesday morning. Ms Elizabeth McCarthy (30) was found fully clothed in a tidal stream in an area known as Kearney's Bridge. Gardaí are treating the death as "suspicious".
Supt Pat Sullivan, leading the investigation, has appealed for anyone in the area between 1 a.m. on Tuesday and 10 a.m. on Wednesday to contact gardaí in Tralee.
Ms McCarthy, a married woman, from Tralee, attended a relative's wedding at the Earl of Desmond Hotel in the town on Monday, about five miles from where her body was discovered. She was reported missing on Tuesday, and her body was noticed by a passer-by walking his dog shortly before 11 a.m. on Wednesday. When last seen she was wearing a brown sequined dress, yellow shoes and a light-coloured bag.
Gardaí are awaiting the result of the post-mortem by Dr Margaret Bolster at Kerry General Hospital on Wednesday night.
The body was discovered face down in a stream, in an area some distance from houses. There were a number of marks on the head and face, and although they are keeping an open mind, it is understood gardaí are investigating whether Ms McCarthy died at the scene or whether she may have been brought there. A murder investigation has not been declared.
Ms McCarthy, who was formerly from Castleisland, is survived by her husband, Patrick, her three boys aged 8, 6 and 2, and her parents.