A ‘HAPPY GIRL’ WHO QUICKLY SETTLED INTO HER LIFE HERE
MOVING here from the Philippines around three years ago, Jastine Valdez was eager to integrate into society in Wicklow and quickly settled into life in Ireland.
A quiet and hard-working woman, the 24-year-old was dedicated to her accountancy studies and developed friendships with locals in Enniskerry and her college classmates.
Ms Valdez – described as being of 5ft in height and of slim build, with long dark hair and brown eyes – is believed to have been living in a gate lodge on the grounds of a large mansion on the outskirts of Enniskerry village.
It is understood that her family live on the private estate as her mother works as a cleaner in the house, close to the location where
‘Such a good friend’
Ms Valdez was abducted on the R760, south of Enniskerry.
As the news of her death broke yesterday, her heartbroken friends and classmates paid tribute to the popular student, painting a picture of a bright and bubbly woman. One friend, Gemma Collier, described her as ‘a happy girl’ who would be remembered as ‘a good friend’. ‘I would like to let her family, in Ireland and the Philippines, know that I am thinking of them all at this sad time,’ she told the Irish Daily Mail.
‘She was so caring towards everyone and she was always smiling in college. I will always remember her; may she rest in peace.’
Ms Collier also posted on Facebook: ‘Can’t believe I’m writing this! Rest in peace Jas Valdez.
‘I’m absolutely heartbroken for you and your family.
‘Such a happy girl! I will always remember you as such a good friend.’
Ms Valdez was studying accountancy at the Institute of Technology in Tallaght. Before a body was discovered yesterday in the search for Ms Valdez, IT Tallaght posted an appeal on Facebook for anyone with information to contact the gardaí, before adding that it hoped for her to return safely.
Earlier on the day she was bundled into a car close to her home, Ms Vandez had been in Bray to go to the gym and visit friends.
She then took the bus back to Enniskerry at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, a 15-minute journey she regularly made on her way home from college or from her job as a carer.
Neighbours recalled that she would often get a lift into Bray in the morning with a family.
It is understood she was an only child and was close to her family, as gardaí said she was regularly in contact with her mother through Facebook. When this contact stopped, her parents became concerned and alerted gardaí