Gardaí granted more time to examine home of murdered Limerick pensioner
By David Raleigh
Gardaí were granted an extra 48 hours by the courts today to continue to designate the home of a murdered pensioner a crime scene, following her killing last Friday.
A heavy garda presence remained outside Rosie Hanrahan’s bungalow at New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick, as forensic officers continued to search the property for clues as to how she died.
Gardaí upgraded their investigation from a “suspicious death” to “murder” last Sunday.
A post mortem conducted by the Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis revealed she died violently, however gardaí did not released the autopsy report for “operational reasons”.
Supt Derek Smart, who is leading the murder probe, did not comment on reports Ms Hanrahan may have been strangled following a break-in at her home.
Her body was discovered by her sister Evelyn and Evelyn’s husband Jim Kenny last Friday afternoon.
Today, heartbroken neighbours left floral tributes outside her front door. Neighbours said her murder has sent fear and shock through the community.
A next door neighbour and friend, Patricia Hayes, said she was devastated she would never see the popular pensioner again.
“I'm so sorry I didn't hear anything next door,” she said wiping tears from her eyes.
“It's so hard to believe Rose is gone. When you see (things like this) on the news, you think to yourself, ‘god help those people’, but when it comes to your own neighbourhood it's devastating,” she said.
Andrew O’Halloran, a local, father of six, living in the area for the past 25 years, said he was horrified.
In summing up the mood in the tight-knit community, he said: "I hope they get whoever done it to her, to be honest with you."
He added: “I always met her at mass. She was a church-going lady who never bothered anyone.
“She was a beautiful lady. It's terrible sad what they did to her. She's going to be missed terribly."
Gardaí have also sealed off areas of wasteland around Ms Hanrahan’s home.
The victim’s rear garden stretches backwards to the banks of the River Shannon.
Garda sources said they “cannot rule in or out” whether or not the person or persons involved in the pensioner’s murder might have used a boat as protective cover to access the rear of her home, where it is reported the break-in may have occurred.
However, while it is also understood gardaí did not find any visible tracks in the mudbanks leading up to the rear of Ms Hanrahan’s home, they are following all possible lines of inquiry.
Gardaí are also studying CCTV footage from security cameras in the area, and from local businesses and homes.
No arrests have yet been made in the case.
Supt Smart appealed for the community to pass on any information they have which may lead to arrests.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigating gardai on 061-212400.
