Phoenix Park murder: dental work abroad

DENTAL records of a woman found stabbed to death in Dublin's Phoenix Park have confirmed the victim had dental work done in another county, possibly eastern Europe, and gardaí are liasing with Interpol and Europol as efforts to identify her intensify.


Gardaí are moving away from the idea that the woman may be homeless given the conditions of her remains.


"Her toenails were painted gold. Having your toenails painted would not usually be a priority for a homeless person," said a source.


Gardaí cannot rule out any possibilities at present and are reviewing other attacks on women in the Phoenix Park to try and establish if her killer stuck before.


"It is looking more likely now that she is a foreign national rather than an Irish national. The fact that no one has come forward here who recognises her and that she had dental work done elsewhere suggests this. But then again, plenty of people from Ireland travel abroad to have their dental work done," added the source.


"We never put it out there that she was homeless but we are looking at whether she may have been temporarily homeless. Every aspect is being looked at."


Investigators took the unusual step of circulating the dead woman's photograph to the media on Friday after no leads emerged as to her identity some three days after she was murdered. The remains of the woman, who was aged in her 30s or 40s, were discovered in a wooded area off Military Road between the Islandbridge and Chapelizod gates of the park close to playing fields known as "the 15 acres".


Two people out walking saw the body at 3.30pm on Wednesday and went to a nearby house within the park and raised the alarm. It is most likely she was murdered on Tuesday night. The remains were found fully clothed and there was no sign of a sexual assault. The victim had been stabbed eight times in a "frenzied attack". Gardaí have received a number of reports of men in the area on Tuesday night.


The murder weapon has been found. Gardaí last night issued a fresh appeal for witnesses.