Gardaí in Wicklow have launched a murder investigation into the death of a 21-year-old woman following the discovery of her body yesterday morning.
Gardaí said the woman, a Chinese national, was stabbed several times in a violent attack. Her body was found lying face up close to some trees in an open area at Woodbrook Glen in Bray shortly after 7.30 a.m. by a man out walking.
The scene was preserved by local gardaí for technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, made a preliminary examination at the scene.
The woman's body was later removed to the City morgue where Dr Cassidy performed a full post-mortem last night, the results of which are expected to be revealed today.
The Garda is working with the Chinese embassy to try to contact her family.
Lying between two housing estates, the parkland is popular with walkers and is also a short-cut to an industrial estate behind it.
It is believed the woman had been living in the area for some time, not far from where her body was discovered. She had been studying English at a college in Dublin.
"She received stab wounds, some to the back and maybe to the front," Chief Supt Philip Moynihan said last night.
Local people reported hearing screams coming from the area at about 11.30 p.m. on Thursday night. The assault has been described by gardaí as being particularly vicious and said the woman's belongings, bag and books were found scattered close to her body.
Gardaí at Bray are appealing for witnesses to come forward and contact them at the incident room, telephone 01-666 5332.