Paula Lawlor, 32, is suspected to have been brutally beaten to death in her own home by a man known to her – tributes have poured in for the ‘bubbly’ woman, and a man has been arrested
A young mother who is suspected to have been brutally beaten to death in her own home has been named.
Paula Lawlor, 32, was killed in her home in Baile Eoghain, Co Wexford, Ireland, in the early hours of Thursday morning. Gardai suspect she was beaten to death by a man known to her. A man was arrested at the scene this morning.
“She absolutely lived for her 13-year-old daughter. Her parents had sadly passed away and she doesn’t have any siblings,” neighbour and friend Emma Weekes told the Irish Mirror. “Luckily her daughter wasn’t at home at the time of the incident. I didn’t hear anything until this morning when we came out and saw the guards.”
Neighbours Robert O’Regan and Aisling Conlon described Ms Lawlor as “bubbly” and remarked on how she often stopped for a chat as she brought her daughter to school in the morning.
“She was always walking in and out and she was just bubbly and loved to chat,” Emma added. “She was just an ordinary kind of girl really. We are all shocked to be honest.”
Local Councillor Craig Doyle told the Irish Mirror: “It’s a terrible tragedy whenever anything like this happens in the community and so close to Christmas too. It’s very difficult for the families involved and for the community.”
Local Fine Gael Councillor Anthony Donohoe described the woman’s death as a “tragic incident”. “It’s a very tragic incident and given the time of the year it is compounds misery on the families left behind,” he said.
In a statement, Gardaí said they are investigating the death of a woman in her 30s following an incident in the early hours.
“Shortly after 3am, Gardaí and emergency services responded to an incident at a residence in Baile Eoghain, Gorey, where the woman was found unresponsive,” officers said.
“A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
“The scene is preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The Office of the State Pathologist and local Coroner have been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged. A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Gorey Garda Station. A family liaison officer (FLO) has also been assigned to support the family.”
Gardaí are appealing to witnesses to come forward. Additionally, they are seeking dashcam footage from motorists who were in the vicinity of Baile Eoghain at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gorey Garda Station on 094 30690 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. Investigations are ongoing.
