Gardaí deny providing armed protection to solicitor of slain woman
The Gardaí have denied that they providing armed protection to the solicitor of murdered Latvian woman Baiba Saulite.
In an unusual move, they issued a statement this evening clarifying what they say were “inaccurate” reports, that the solicitor was protected round-the-clock after death threats were made against him.
The 28-year-old mother of two was shot dead at her home in Swords on Sunday.
Gardaí said that, in the wake of threats made against him, the solicitor did receive extensive crime prevention advice, including enhancements he could make to his properties and personal safety.
His properties were subject to security surveys by trained gardaí, and would have been given extra attention from patrols, uniformed and armed.
However, they said that at no time was he given full-time armed personal protection.
Baiba Saulite was also given advice at the time, but gardaí said that at no time were they aware of any specific threat to her life.
As part of the murder investigation, house to house enquiries are ongoing in the area, and gardaí have now learned that she had expressed concerns to friends and neighbours.
While preparing a document for use in a court sentencing of her husband, she expressed concerns for her safety and appeared to be in fear of him.
The Garda Commissioner is now examining when and to whom this information was known.
The murder inquiry is also continuing.
