Gardaí continue to question a man questioned following the death of a woman and serious alleged assault of a man in Ballinlough, County Cork yesterday evening. 

The alleged attack took place a short walk from Cork Constitution rugby grounds. 

The woman in her late 50s was brought to Cork University Hospital for treatment but subsequently died. 

The man, who is in his 60s, was also taken to CUH where he remains in a serious but stable condition. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, Irish Independent Southern Correspondent Ralph Riegel said the alleged attack is understood to have taken place outside a property owned by the couple. 

“A man in his 20s was also at the scene, it appears that he then tried to get access to another property before he was arrested at a different location then in Shrewsbury Downs by Gardaí and armed Gardaí - who raced to the scene once the alarm was raised by neighbours,” Mr Riegel explained. 

“There’s a large Garda presence in the estate at the moment; three separate scenes have been cordoned off with crime scene tape. 

“There’s a large green area that’s completely surrounded with Garda tape that’s going to undergo a technical examination later in the day. 

“Two properties in the estate have also been sealed off; they will be subject to a full forensic and technical examination.” 

Mr Riegel added that once neighbours became aware of the alleged attack, Gardaí were called and they arrived  “within minutes”. 

“This man, who is in his 20s, he was detained at the scene last night under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act,” Mr Riegel said. 

“He was taken to a Garda Station in Cork City for questioning. 

“He can be detained for a period of up to 24 hours but rest, medical and food breaks are added to that time.” 

Local reaction

Mr Riegel said there is “genuine shock” among the area’s local residents. 

“A lot of people can’t believe that this happened here and they’re very, very much upset for the family involved,” he said. 

“Members of the family did attend the property last night and we understand there’s a Garda liaison officer working with them at the moment.” 

A full post-mortem examination of the woman’s body is likely to be carried out later today. 

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