GARDAI investigating the murder of two women outpatients of St Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman, Dublin are satisfied the knives used by their killer came from the hostel in which the women lived.
Forensic tests are being carried out on other items in the four bedroom terraced house at Orchard View, opposite the hospital. A broken rear kitchen window is also being examined.
Chief Supt Dick Kelly, who is heading the inquiry, made a fresh appeal yesterday for any information about items of heavily blood stained clothing which he believed had been discarded by the killer.
"We still feel that maybe there is some item of clothing, be it a glove, a jacket or a coat, which is bloodstained." Gardai had carried out a search of the immediate vicinity of the house, but it could be extended, he said.
Ms Sylvia Shields (57), originally from Cabra, and her friend Ms Mary Callinan (61), from Dublin's inner city, were found knifed to death in their bedrooms last Friday morning.
The discovery was made by the 46 year old woman who shared the house with them, when she got up shortly after 6 a.m. to make a cup of tea. It appears that she slept through the attacks.
One of the victims was last seen alive at 5.30 p.m. the previous day, while the other was sighted in the house at around 11 p.m.
Gardai urgently want to hear from people who saw anyone acting suspiciously around Orchard View between 11 p.m. that night and 6 a.m. the following day and in the two week period before the murders took place.
Taxi drivers are also being asked to recall whether they gave anyone a lift to or from Orchard View at the time in question.
It has been established that a number of house break ins had occurred in streets in the surrounding area in recent weeks and gardai are investigating burglaries in the area over the past month.
Anyone with any information should contact the gardai in confidence on 01 8725777.