Woman in her 50s dies after assault at Portlaoise home; man in his 70s arrested at scene
A woman in her 50s was pronounced dead at a house on Church Street in Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon, and a man in his 70s has been arrested.
The incident
Gardaí and emergency services were called to a domestic residence on Church Street in Portlaoise, Co Laois, shortly after 12.30pm on Sunday, July 5. A woman aged in her 50s was pronounced dead at the scene. A man in his 70s was arrested at the location and is being detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Investigation
A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the inquiry, and an incident room has been established at Portlaoise Garda Station. The State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged. The scene remains preserved for a technical examination.
Investigations are ongoing.
Witness appeal
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who was in the Church Street area between 11am and 1pm on Sunday to come forward. They are particularly interested in camera footage, including CCTV or dashcam, from that time window.
Anyone who was in the Church Street area on Sunday, July 5 between 11am and 1pm and who may have camera footage, including CCTV or dashcam, is asked to provide this footage to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Separate Dublin assault
In an unrelated incident, a man in his 20s was seriously injured in an assault on Hawkins Street, Dublin 2, at approximately 12.20am on Sunday. He was taken to Beaumont Hospital and remains in a critical condition. Gardaí at Pearse Street are appealing for witnesses who were in the area between midnight and 12.30am.
