Gardaí have appealed for witnesses after a man attacked his estranged partner with an axe in Leixlip, County Kildare. 

The attack took place in a property on Oaklawn West in the early hours of Monday morning. 

Both the victim and the attacker were aged in their 50s. 

“It seems the woman, who is aged in her 50s, managed to escape,” Irish Times Crime & Security Editor Conor Gallagher explained on Newstalk Breakfast.  

“While the man remained at the house and set it on fire - specifically, he set the upstairs on fire. 

“That fire spread, damaging the upstairs and through to the houses on either side of it. 

“The man fled the scene and his body was later recovered by members of the Garda Water Unit.” 

A Garda police lamp sign. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Emergency services were called out to the home and the fire was put out by a residential fire extinguisher. 

The victim was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where she is being treated for serious injuries. 

“This is essentially an investigation with a view to preparing a file for the coroner,” Mr Gallagher added. 

“The main suspect in the case is obviously deceased, so it’s highly unlikely there will be any criminal prosecutions. 

“We do believe the man has been before the courts previously for attacking his estranged partner and was on bail for that suspected offence.” 

Gardai are especially keen to talk to people who were at Oaklawn West, Leixlip, on the N4 or around the Leixlip Reservoir between 5.30 and 8 yesterday morning. 

Anyone with any information can contact Leixlip Garda Station.

Main image: Gardaí. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie