Victim at centre of Sligo murder inquiry named
The victim at the centre of a murder inquiry in Sligo town was tonight named as 24-year-old Natalie McGuinness.
The dark-haired woman was the eldest of two daughters of a family living in the Easkey area of west Co Sligo.
Local County Councillor Michael Clarke said: “The area is devastated by this tragedy.
“Natalie also had some brothers but I don’t know how many.
“They are a lovely family - the salt of the earth.”
Natalie’s father, John Joe, is a farm labourer and her mother Catherine has worked in pubs in west Sligo.
Mr Clarke added that the deceased was “a beautiful woman, just like a model”.
Gardai in Sligo received a call at approximately 10.30am this morning.
They went to a house on Mailcoach Road, Sligo, where ambulance crew were already at the scene.
Gardai encountered a man in his early 30s carrying a knife. He was tasered by members of the Regional Support Unit, Sligo.
Medical attention was provided to the man.
Gardai then discovered a young woman in the back apartment of the two-storey yellow-coloured house at the time.
They said nobody else was in the building.
Both were removed to Sligo Regional Hospital for medical attention and the woman was pronounced dead shortly after 11am.
The scene was preserved for technical examination and the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy was due to conduct a post mortem examination this evening.
Garda Sligo chief officer, Supt Mary Murray, visited the crime scene, along with the head of the local crime squad, Det Inspector Jim Delaney.
Ms McGuinness was believed by local people to have worked in a supermarket.
The man being treated in hospital was said to have been a native of Co Roscommon who lived in Sligo.
Neighbours had only limited details of what happened.
Widow Ann Cawley, who is aged in her 80s, lives opposite the house where the incident took place, said she knew nothing of the incident until she spotted two ambulances and gardai across the street.
She added: “A young couple were living there and I saw them sometimes, but I never knew their names. They seemed to be a quite ordinary couple.”
Sligo Town Councillor Declan Bree said: “It’s mainly a settled community on that road which is one of the main routes into the centre of the town.
“It’s a very stressful event and my sympathy goes out to the family and other relatives of the dead woman.”
A local spokesman in the investigation dismissed several rumours about how the killing happened.
He also emphasised that, contrary to some reports, no non-nationals were involved in the incident.
Gardai asked that anyone with information contact Sligo Garda Station 071 9157000 or the Garda Confidential Line 1 800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
