KATHRYN HAYES
A 53-year-old grandmother found near the banks of the river Shannon in Limerick may have died after she slipped into the water after consuming alcohol.
The partially clothed body of Yvonne Treacy from Sarsfield Gardens Moyross, Limerick, was found by a man out walking his dog shortly before 9.30am yesterday.The tragic discovery was made in an area known locally as Donnellan's field New Road, Kileely, a known location for outdoor drinking.
Mrs Treacy's family were being comforted by relatives last night at the Mid Western Regional Hospital where a post mortem was carried out by the State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy,
Prof Cassidy concluded the cause of death was not trauma related of the result of an assault, and no foul play is suspected according to Gardai.
Inspector Brian Sugrue who is leading the investigation said gardai are now waiting the results of toxicology tests "to establish if the death was accidental or natural".
Gardai are anxious to speak to anybody who may seen Mrs Treacy on Sunday night and any one with information is asked to contact Mayorstone Garda Station on (061) 445980.
The woman who is survived by her husband Ger and children, was last seen at 7pm on Sunday night in the nearby Watch House Cross area of Moyross.
This is the second time that tragedy has visited the Treacy family in recent years. Mrs Treacy was said to have been heart broken following the death of her 12 year old son in the early nineties.
“She was a great mother and grandmother and only recently had the joy of attending her grand daughter’s baptism and her grand son’s First Communion which both took place on the same day,” said Moyross Parish Priest Fr Tony O’Riordan.
“They are a very well known family in the area and our thoughts and prayers are with Ger and his family at this time,” he added.