A MAN was being held at Castlebar Garda station in Mayo last night in connection with the killing of a woman in her home.
Noreen Kelly Eadon (46), a separated mother of four, had severe injuries when discovered by her teenage son in her home at Derrycrieve, Islandeady, at about 1.40am.
Just over six hours later, a man in his early 20s was arrested in the nearby townland of Corha, a rural area three miles from Castlebar.
The suspect was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis was due to carry out a postmortem on Ms Kelly Eadon following a preliminary examination of the body at the scene. Garda sources said the dead woman had been stabbed and beaten.
The man being questioned last night was known to the victim.
The house where the killing took place was sealed off for a forensic examination.
Neighbours said they were shocked by the brutal death on a day when the local community was celebrating the elevation of locally born TD Enda Kenny to the position of Taoiseach.
“This is an appalling crime which has cast a cloud over what should be a very happy day in the history of Islandeady,” one parish resident said.
It is understood Ms Kelly Eadon was not from Islandeady but had moved there with her family some years ago.