Gardaí investigating the killing of a young mother in a house in Cork city at the weekend were yesterday searching for a knife which they believed was used in the killing as they began preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The body of Jessica Prendergast (21), originally from Thorndale, Dublin Hill, on Cork's northside, was found with multiple stab wounds to the upper body in a house at Old Commons Road in Blackpool shortly after 6.30am on Saturday.
The discovery was made by gardaí who were alerted after Ms Prendergast's 47-year-old mother, May, called into the offices of Blue Cabs in Blackpool carrying Ms Prendergast's one-year-old son, Jason Lee.
Both Mrs Prendergast and the infant were splattered with blood and the taxi-base operator immediately contacted the Garda.
Gardaí arrived at the scene and while taking Mrs Prendergast to Mercy University Hospital they learned that her daughter had been killed a short time earlier. They contacted colleagues who began a search in the Blackpool area.
At the hospital, it emerged that Mrs Prendergast and her grandson were uninjured but Mrs Prendergast received medical attention.
Meanwhile in Blackpool, gardaí seeking to establish where the attack had occurred went to a two-storey terraced house on the Old Commons Road just 300 metres from the taxi base shortly after 6.30am.
However, they failed to get a response at the house.
Officers had to break down the door to gain entry and they found Ms Prendergast lying face down on the hall floor.
Gardaí under Supt Martin Shanahan of Mayfield Garda station requested the services of both the Garda Technical Bureau from Dublin and State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy while detectives began door-to-door inquiries to see if anyone had seen or heard anything.
Garda Technical Bureau experts arrived at around 1pm and carried out a forensic examination while Dr Cassidy arrived at 2.30pm and carried out a preliminary examination of Ms Prendergast's body.
Ms Prendergast's remains were then removed for a postmortem.
It is understood that gardaí believe that Ms Prendergast was first attacked in an upstairs bedroom she shared with her infant son.
They believe that she then tried to flee downstairs from her assailant to get help, only to succumb to the many injuries sustained in the attack.
Meanwhile, following discussions on Saturday night between senior gardaí and the Health Service Executive officials, Mrs Prendergast remained in hospital.
Jason Lee Prendergast was one year old on Thursday and before she was attacked his mother had been preparing to have a birthday party in the house for him on Saturday.
The infant is now being looked after by his father and his family.
