"We are all dreading it, " he said. "We have all our relations calling to us, but it is going to be a very hard time for us. Meg's killing comes back to us every minute of every day and it won't go away. We just want to see justice done and Meg's killer brought to justice."

The naked and badly decomposed body of the 35-year-old mother-of-one was recovered from the River Suir near the Clock Tower in Waterford city on 15 October, two weeks after she disappeared following a night out with friends at the Woodlands Hotel.

She went missing in the Ballinakill area of Waterford on 1 October and an extensive search was mounted in an attempt to find her.

"Since Meg's murder, we have been told by garda�? that there would be nothing spared in the case and there hasn't been, " James Walsh said. "The garda�? have worked extremely hard to bring her killer to justice and I am fairly confident of a successful conclusion. We are lucky, as our extended family have been very good to us. I have an uncle that rings me at lunchtime every day. You could be on your knees, but he rings me and tries to help me out with his wit and lift me up again. As well as that, our neighbours and friends have all been great to us. They have been very supportive to us over the last few months."

A man in his 40s and known to Meg Walsh has been questioned on a number of occasions about her killing, but nobody has been charged with her murder to date. A garda spokesman said:

"A man was arrested and questioned about Meg Walsh's murder on 9 December, but he was released without charge. A file on the case is currently being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions."

Meg's family will visit her grave in her native Killavullen, near Mallow in north Cork tomorrow morning to pay their respects on their first Christmas morning without her.