Gardai in Galway investigating the murder of 17 year-old Connemara schoolgirl Siobhan Hynes have made a crucial breakthrough, with the discovery of the girl's watch on the shore near where her body was found just over a week ago.
The watch had stopped at 4.30 p.m., which may give some indication as to the time of her death. The find follows last week's discovery of a piece of her jewellery on a boreen leading to the shore at Tismeain. A jacket she was wearing was found on the beach.
Gardai said yesterday that there was a good response to questionnaires they distributed. It is believed Siobhan may have accepted a lift from someone she knew after she parted with her friends in Carraroe in the early hours of Sunday morning. Members of the Garda Sub Aqua Unit are continuing their search for a possible murder weapon. It was still unclear yesterday if head injuries suffered by the dead girl were due to a deliberate blow, or collision with rocks while her body was in the water.
The results of DNA analysis from the body are expected to be available early this week.