The county Limerick woman who died from severe head injuries at her Dutch home last Monday, is to be buried in her native Rathkeale tomorrow.
64 year-old Martina O’Brien-Viguurs, a grandmother and mother-of-eight, was found dead after paramedics were called to her home at Savornin Lohman Street in Den Bosch, an affluent city in the southern Dutch province of Brabant.
Dutch police have confirmed they are treating the death as suspicious and local media reported that they were investigating whether the injuries were inflicted by a heavy, blunt object.
Mrs O’Brien-Viguurs had been resident in the Netherlands for the past five years and had also lived in the Douglas area of Cork for a number of years. She is survived by six daughters, two sons and 11 grandchildren.
Her husband, named locally as Arnold ‘Arno’ Viguurs, appeared in court yesterday in connection with her death and was remanded in custody to appear before a judge in Den Bosch within the next 14 days when a decision will be made on whether charges will be brought against him.
Mr Viguurs, who is a retired real estate agent in his sixties, is well known in the area, having been on the local carnival organising committee.
Neighbours said the couple’s home on Savornin Lohman Street had been sold for €225,000, with the couple intending to retire to Ireland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the woman’s Irish-based family, who were deeply shocked to be informed of her death on Monday evening.
Mrs O’Brien-Viguurs’ removal will be from her daughter’s home in Douglas, Cork this evening with her funeral Mass in Rathkeale Church tomorrow.
