A woman found dead in a bath in a Limerick hotel at the weekend was the victim of an assault, it has emerged.
Cleaning staff at the Clarion Hotel in Limerick discovered the body of the married mother, who is in her mid-30s, at midday on Saturday. Last night she was named as Sylvia Roche-Kelly, Ballintlea, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. She was 33 years old and a mother of two.
Results of a postmortem carried out yesterday proved inconclusive. However, gardaí are satisfied that she died as a result of an assault.
The victim, who is originally from Limerick, was found naked and lying face down in a bath with no water. Gardaí immediately described her death as "highly suspicious" because of the position in which her body was found.
A black coat and other items of clothing belonging to Ms Roche-Kelly were found in the bedroom.
However, there was no sign of the man who had booked the room the previous evening. It is not yet known if the man, who is in his early 20s and from the Co Tipperary area, knew the victim.
Gardaí are still waiting to speak to him and it is understood CCTV footage taken from the hotel will help them with their inquiries.
The woman had been out socialising in Limerick city earlier that night with family members and friends. Her relatives contacted the gardaí after hearing a news report on the six o'clock television news on Saturday evening that described the victim as having long black hair and wearing a black coat.
Pathologist Dr Declan Gilsenan carried out a postmortem yesterday in the Mid Western Regional Hospital.
According to a Garda spokesman the results of the postmortem were inconclusive and further toxicology tests are now being carried out.
The spokesman confirmed, however, that they were satisfied that the woman was the victim of an assault and her death is being treated as suspicious.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the gardaí at Henry Street in Limerick on 061-212400.