SEMRA members remained on the Comeragh Mountains overnight following the discovery of a body of a woman late yesterday evening.
A larger search operation has been scaled down. The search had begun on Sunday evening when the woman failed to return home at the expected time and her husband raised the alarm. The woman was described as an experienced hill walker and runner, and had set off in the Comeragh Mountains on Sunday. Gardai say the scene has been preserved and their investigations are continuing. A large operation involving land owners, civil defence, Gardai, Rescue 117 Helicopter, members of several mountain rescue associations was assembled for the search.
The woman had lived near Thurles for a number of years and she was originally from the Ballymacarbry area. A searcher at the scene said: “This is not the outcome we wanted for the woman’s family. It is very rare that such an awful event like this happens. Our thoughts are with the woman’s husband and family.”
Gardaí believe her death was a tragic accident. If weather conditions permit the intention is to remove the body from the scene later this morning to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford, where post-mortem will take place at a later date.
