Body of woman found in Cork house may have been there for several years

Olivia Kelleher

The body of a woman has been discovered at a house in Cork city, with gardaí suspecting she may have been dead for up to three years.

Foul play is not understood to be a factor in the case.

The woman's body was found inside the house at Brookfield Lawn on the southside of Cork on Tuesday afternoon after pest control services were working nearby.

They subsequently went to the house after they strongly suspected that it was the source of the problem in another property.

The workers contacted gardaí after the remains, which were in an advanced stage of decomposition, were found in the house. The area was sealed off, and an investigation was launched by gardaí.

The services of the State pathologist will be required and a postmortem examination will be carried out at Cork University Hospital. The coroner has been notified and an inquest will be heard at a later date.

Dental records will be used to formally identify the woman. Investigating officers are attempting to establish when the middle-aged woman may have died. They will look at personal items such as post and food expiry dates in the refrigerator and cupboards.

It is understood the woman was a very private person who had not been seen locally for some time. Her remains will be removed to the hospital morgue.

Gardaí, the Cork City Fire Brigade and the ambulance service attended the scene.