Woman killed in gruesome Offaly attack shared online named

The woman killed in the brutal killing posted on social media in Offaly on Friday has been named locally as Lorna Woodnutt.

The local woman was found with severe injuries and dead at the scene at a house near Rahan, around 10km outside Tullamore at 1pm on Friday.

It's understood the woman was savagely attacked, possibly with a number of weapons.

Two hammers, including a sledgehammer, were among the items taken from the grim scene by gardaí.

The aftermath of the horror killing was shared on social media with a number of videos circulating.

Gardaí are working with social media companies to remove the footage from circulation while they're also appealing to people in possession of the video not to forward it to others.

A teenage boy known to the deceased woman has been arrested in connection with the killing and is being questioned at a garda station in the Midlands.

In a statement, gardaí said: "Gardaí are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in County Offaly this afternoon, Friday the 29th of September, 2023.

"At approximately 1pm, Gardaí and Emergency Services responded to reports of a violent incident at a residential property near Tullamore. The body of a woman, aged in her 40s, was discovered in the property.

"A male child was arrested at the scene and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in the Midlands. The boy is known to the woman and investigating Gardaí are not looking for any other persons in connection with this incident.

"The scene is currently preserved pending forensic and technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.

"The Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been informed.

"A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed and an incident room has been established at Tullamore Garda Station.

"A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed in the case."

Locals are in 'absolute shock' at brutal death 

Fine Gael councillor in Tullamore Neil Feighery said the community would “rally around” the impacted families in the wake of the tragedy.

"We are, as a community, in absolute shock. We are still coming to terms with the news and we’re waiting to hear from An Garda Siochana but the reports are truly shocking," he said.

"My thoughts and prayers are genuinely with the family impacted by this terrible, terrible, terrible tragedy.

"It’s something that is really hard to comprehend and please God, the families will get the support and grace and blessings that they need at this horrendous time.

"Truly horrendous time for our community and for our town and for our area.

"I just wanted to send my own sympathies and give my sincerest sympathies – and everything that can be done by the Tullamore community will be done in the coming days and weeks.”

Independent councillor Sandra Feehan-Smollen said: "Like most people I am truly shocked by the horrific murder of a woman this evening by a teenage boy near Tullamore today. It's also shocking that he recorded his actions and uploaded it to social media.

"Can I plead with anyone that viewed these shocking images not to share them. I would also ask parents to speak with their children who may also have viewed the images on their mobile devices as there can be no doubt that many teenagers and children who have viewed the images will be traumatised by what they have seen. My deepest condolences to the family, relatives, neighbours and friends of the deceased woman."

Independent Offaly TD Carol Nolan said: “My heartfelt condolences and sympathy go out to this lady’s family.

"Violence of this nature is always a traumitising and shattering event, and I can only imagine what they are going through. The community will be deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy. I want to fully support the work of the gardaí in their efforts to establish the facts. My prayers are with all of those impacted by this terrible and dreadfully distressing event.”