The 37-year-old mother of one was found dead at her south Dublin home last Tuesday morning by a member of her family. It initially appeared that she may have taken her own life but a murder investigation was launched after it emerged that she had apparently been strangled to death with the flex of a vacuum cleaner.

Her body was found in a locked bedroom in the upstairs of the house, at Knocknashee estate in Goatstown, shortly after 10am on Tuesday, at which time it is believed that she had been dead for several hours. A unit of the fire brigade was initially called to the scene to break down the locked door.

Gardai later released without charge a 49-year-old man who was known to the dead woman. It is hoped that a detailed forensic examination of the scene will yield further information.

The usefulness of any forensic evidence in the case, taken from either the scene or from the chief suspect, may be limited given that the chief suspect is likely to have visited the dead woman's home on a number of occasions, one senior garda source told the Sunday Tribune.

Investigating detectives from local units, backed up by members of the national bureau of criminal investigation, are now finalising a file to be sent to the DPP.

Kearney ran a hotel in Majorca with her husband Brian. Gardai contacted the dead woman's husband at work after they sealed off the crime scene.

Gardai at Dundrum station arrested the chief suspect at a house where he had been living, close to the murdered woman's home. He was detained at Dundrum station for questioning under section 4 of the criminal justice act but was later released without charge.