Latest: Man due in court in connection with death of grandmother
A 32-year-old man arrested on Tuesday evening by Gardaí investigating the murder of Patricia O'Connor will appear at Tallaght District Court this morning.
Gardaí are continuing to question a man in connection with the murder of Patricia O'Connor.
Ms O'Connor's remains have been found in a number of locations in the Wicklow Mountains after being murdered in Dublin.
Gardaí have sealed off sites in Wicklow, Dublin and Wexford in connection with the grandmother's death.
Ms O’Connor was from the Rathfarnham area of South Dublin and had worked as a chef in the now closed private maternity hospital, Mount Carmel.
She had been reported missing from her home on June 2.
Gardaí believe that she died as a result of a blow to her head with a blunt object during a row with a male relative before her body was dismembered and discarded around the Co Wicklow area.
A 32-year-old man presented himself to Wexford Garda Station on Tuesday, where he was later arrested. He was being detained in Bray Garda Station last night.
It is understood that Ms O’Connor died in her Rathfarnham home and was then transferred to a car where an attempt was made to bury her in a shallow grave in Co Wexford.
There are now at least eight crime scenes being investigated by gardaí, in locations in Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow.
One theory being investigated is that Ms O’Connor was buried with her body relatively intact, however, the killer panicked and dug up her remains in order to dismember them and later discard them.
Wexford Chief Supt John Roche said a scene has been preserved in a rural area in the county.
“It’s a rural area between Kilmuckridge and Blackwater,” he said.
“Right now, we’re waiting on a team from the technical bureau to begin searching the surrounding area.
“The scene we have is quite contained, so we will be searching it ourselves.”
Over 200 gardaí and Defence Forces employees are involved in the large-scale search investigation, including members of the Garda Water Unit and Dog Unit.
Following the discovery of the torso by hikers last Saturday evening, the biggest breakthrough was locating a human head on Tuesday afternoon, approximately 3km north of Glenmacnass waterfall, which is on the Military Road in Co Wicklow.
Further remains, including an arm, were located later in the afternoon.
A partial torso, a leg, a backbone and internal organs were then recovered as part of the investigation.
Describing the “gruesome” discoveries, Bray Superintendent Pat Ward said he was conscious the remains were those of a “loved one.”
