Gardaí were last night trying to establish a motive for the suspicious death of a mother of three whose body was found by her 70-year-old mother in her kitchen in Dundalk yesterday.
The body of Irene White (44) is believed to have what looked like stab wounds or similar injuries. Garda Chief Supt Michael Finnegan said there were "suspicious injuries".
Mrs White's body was removed from the house on Demesne Road yesterday evening after it was examined by State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy. She was brought to Louth County Hospital where Prof Cassidy will conduct a postmortem. Her findings may lead to the investigation being upgraded to a murder investigation.
Gardaí last night appealed for the public's assistance and particularly for anyone who saw suspicious activity between 8.30am and 12.30pm yesterday in the areas of Demesne Road, McSwinney Street, Ice House Hill and O'Hanlon Park, to contact them on 042-9388400.
Mrs White was last seen dropping her three children, Jennifer (17), Dairíne (7), and Damhan (6), to school yesterday morning. She was driving a maroon-coloured Mazda 636, registration number 94 LH 245.
She normally shared a cup of tea with her mother Mrs Maureen McBride around noon. Her mother lives in a mobile home in the garden of Mrs White's house.
When Mrs McBride went to the house yesterday morning, she discovered her daughter's body lying on the kitchen floor. She ran to a family friend who rang the Garda.
The house, garden and drive were immediately sealed off, awaiting the arrival of Prof Cassidy and Garda crime scene investigators.
Gardaí say they think Mrs White may have been washing the dishes just before her death.
There was no sign of a break-in at the house, which is detached and beside Ice House Hill, a popular park. A large wall separates the house from the park. Gardaí yesterday searched the undergrowth and shrubs for a possible weapon.
Neighbours described Mrs White as hard-working. She was known for her work as an Avon cosmetics representative and had recently started working as an aromatherapist.
She was originally from the Border village of Omeath, on the Carlingford peninsula. Her husband, Alan, works in security.