Following the violent death of 40-year-old woman in Co Offaly yesterday, a teenage boy has been arrested. Shockingly, footage of the aftermath was streamed live on social media and gardaí appeal to the wider public not to share or view the footage.
It is reported the woman named locally as Laura Woodnutt was killed at a property circa 12km from Tullamore on Friday.
A woman in her 40s was found dead at a house near Rahan, a village around 10km outside Tullamore. It’s understood the woman was savagely attacked, possibly with a number of weapons.
Rahan Monastic Church, photo Visions of the Past
Local news source Offaly Live (Offaly Express) reported “two hammers, including a sledgehammer, were among the items taken from the grim scene by gardaí” … “with a number of videos circulating.”
The small community is described as being utterly shocked and appalled at the brutality of Ms Woodnutt’s death. The youth was known to have behavioural issues and previously displayed “challenging” behaviour.
At approximately 1pm yesterday, gardaí and emergency services responded to reports of a violent incident at a residential property in Rahan, where the body of the late Ms Woodnutt was discovered.
A male child was arrested at the scene and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in the Midlands. The boy is known to the woman and investigating Gardaí are not looking for any other persons in connection with this incident.
The Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist were informed and gardaí are investigating the circumstances of the death. The scene is currently preserved pending forensic and technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.
A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed and an incident room has been established at Tullamore Garda Station, along with a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) appointed to the case.
Again, An Garda Síochána appeal that images related to this tragic incident are not shared and forwarded on social media and messaging apps.
Feature image: the late Laura Woodnuff
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