Garda∅ have said they are not looking for anyone in connection with the deaths of a couple in their 50s in Navan, Co Meath.
The couple, named locally as Seamus and Jeanette Mooney, were found dead in a bedroom of their home on Boyne Road on the outskirts of the town on Wednesday night.
It emerged yesterday that Mrs Mooney was partially blind after suffering from retinitis pigmentosis or tunnel-vision for over 20 years.
A friend who had a key to allow her to check on the house when the couple were away, discovered their bodies after she became concerned at not getting any response to her repeated phone calls in recent days. She had last seen the couple on Sunday, shortly after they returned from a visit to Britain where their four grown-up children live.
The Garda Technical Bureau was last night expected to begin a thorough examination of the house; but a preliminary survey has already revealed no evidence of a break-in or any disturbance outside of the bedroom where the bodies were found.
While Mrs Mooney had suffered head injuries, there were no obvious signs of injury on Mr Mooney's body.
It is now thought he may have died of natural causes after his wife; but garda∅ were awaiting the results of post-mortem examinations last night to determine exactly what happened.
Two of the couple's children arrived in Navan yesterday morning; but did not visit the house which they moved to as teenagers, becoming residents of one of Navan's most sought after addresses.
The Mooneys were well known and liked in the area and were very active socially and in the community.
Mr Mooney had worked as a civil servant before getting involved in a window replacement business and Mrs Mooney, a founder member of the Fighting Blindness organisation, was a regular fund raiser. Neighbours were shocked at the deaths of the couple who, one said "kept their private lives private; but always seemed very together".
"They were an amazing couple. Great people. It's very sad," said another neighbour who did not wish to be named.
A Garda spokesman said more family members were expected to fly in today and the names of the couple would not be formally released until other close relatives, who are also out of the jurisdiction, had been informed.
Boyne Road is an old neighbourhood on the road between Navan and the main Slane road. Most of those living there are older established families.