A FORMER music teacher Gardaí suspect may have been the victim of a fatal assault, was described in her home town as a “lovely respectable woman”.
The woman, named locally as Louise Muckell, Cois Deel, Rathkeale, died at University Hospital Limerick on Wednesday, after she was found seriously injured at a house in Cois Deel, around 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Gardaí at Henry Street Station in Limerick City are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the course of their investigations.
A Garda spokesman said that Gardaí would not comment on the nature of Ms Muckell’s injuries.
A local source said Ms Muckell was a “very talented singer and piano teacher”.
Paying tribute, they said: “It’s very, very sad. She was a music teacher. She’s only in her mid 50s. The Garda forensics were at the house all day yesterday in Rathkeale. It’s unbelievable, the whole town is in shock.
“She was very respectable lady and taught piano in the former Sisters of Mercy secondary school in Rathkeale. She has a family living around the area, and I understand she had retired from teaching music.”
“She also used to sing in the local church, at weddings and funerals, and she was much sought after as a talented musician.
“I understand she lived alone. She loved her dog, and she kept herself to herself so it’s hard to know what has happened.”
“She was too nice for this world. I remember when she used to sing at Saturday night Mass and Sunday Mass. It’s a few years since I last saw her singing in the church, but when she did, she could raise the roof. She was a lovely respectable woman.”
“There was a lot of Gardaí around dressed in the forensic white suits in and out of the house, so that’s serious. Then on Wednesday we heard Louise had passed away, the poor woman.”
