GARDAÍ believe the man who stabbed a woman to death in an apartment in Limerick City acted alone in the killing and fleeing the scene.
A source familiar with the murder probe said Gardaí did not suspect at this stage that the killer was assisted by others.
A 26-year-old male was arrested Thursday by members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) “on suspicion of murder”.
Detectives based at Limerick’s Divisional Headquarters are believed to have traveled to Northern Ireland to assist their PSNI colleagues, who were questioning the man at Musgrave Police Station, Belfast.
The victim, believed to be in her 20s and from Romania, was found with multiple stab wounds inside an apartment block on the Dock Road, Limerick City, around 1.30pm on Tuesday (April 4).
Senior Garda sources said the joint investigation involving Gardaí and the PSNI was at an “advanced stage” following the man’s arrest and that Gardaí were assisting their PSNI colleagues.
Gardaí are believed to have contacted the young woman’s family in Romania, who have been appointed a Garda Family Liaison Officer to inform them of any developments in the ongoing murder probe.
Gardaí continued harvesting video footage off of CCTV cameras along the Dock Road and O’Curry Street, as well as in and around parts of Limerick City centre.
Detectives were examining CCTV footage to try to trace the movements of a male seen acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the murder scene between 1pm and 2pm last Tuesday.
Gardaí were anxious to speak to a man seen with a bandage on one of his hands, who washed his hands in a shop near the scene the same afternoon.
A senior Garda source said cross-border legislation between Northern Ireland and the Republic allowed Gardaí to assist their colleagues in the PSNI in investigations.
They added that if the arrested man was to face was charges, he would likely be charged within the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland, but that he may face trial in the south.
Gardaí have yet to comment on whether a murder weapon has been recovered. Search teams combed a stretch of Dock Road, O’Curry Street, and Henry Street on Wednesday in the hunt for evidence.
Two scenes were being forensically examined by Gardaí, including the apartment block where the woman was found.
They examined a business premises near the scene and removed a number of items in evidence bags.
A Garda source praised the good work of Gardaí and the PNSI that led to yesterday’s arrest.
Romanian television reported the victim as being 27 years of age and from the city of Tulcea. It was also reported that she was a mother of four.
It said the victim had travelled to Ireland with a man three weeks ago and that the young woman’s family were looking after her four children.
It further reported that the victim’s mother did not know her daughter had travelled to Ireland and that she understood her daughter had been staying with a relative in Germany.
A senior Garda source said Gardaí would not be making any comment officially or otherwise about any specific details regarding the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
