Gardaí have not ruled out the possibility that woman who was found dead in her north Co Wexford home on Thursday died as a result of an accident.
Despite initial suspicions that Paula Lawlor (32) had been assaulted before her death, a postmortem did not provide conclusive evidence that she was the subject of a violent attack.
A man known to Ms Lawlor was arrested but later released without charge.
The Garda investigation continues but has not yet been upgraded to a murder inquiry.
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A source said investigators are keeping an open mind and have not ruled out the possibility that Ms Lawlor, a mother of one, died violently.
Gardaí initially suspected she had been strangled but it is understood further examinations ruled this possibility out. The results of further pathological tests are pending and these will dictate the course of the investigation.
A postmortem was completed on Ms Lawlor’s body by State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis on Thursday night. The results are not being released for operational reasons.
Ms Lawlor’s body was discovered at her home at Baile Eoghain, Gorey shortly after 3am on Thursday. Gardaí and paramedics responded and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Searches of the property were continuing on Friday.
A man, aged in his 30s, was subsequently arrested and held for questioning at a garda station in the eastern region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He was released without charge on Friday. A file is being prepared from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a statement, the Garda said it is continuing to investigate “all the circumstances” of Ms Lawlor’s death.
The force continues to appeal to witnesses to come forward. It is also seeking dashcam footage from motorists who were in the vicinity of Baile Eoghain at the time of the incident in the early hours of Thursday. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gorey Garda station on (094) 30690 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
