Hunt for two witnesses over body discovery in burning car
Driver and young mum may have crucial evidence to help officers
GARDAI probing the death of a woman whose body was found in a burning car have appealed for two potential witnesses to contact them.
Detectives are keen to speak to a woman who was out walking with her children near Dromdeer Woods in North Cork and a male driver who was also in the area at around lunchtime on Thursday, February 4.
The shocking discovery of the body of grandmother Mary O’keeffe, in her 70s, was made in the Doneraile area at around 4.30pm.
Farmer Michael Leonard, 62, was charged with Ms O’keeffe’s murder. He has appeared twice before Cork District Court via videolink from Cork Prison.
Garda Sergeant John Kelly of Fermoy Garda station said: “A month has passed and we’re still anxious to talk to a couple of people or anyone who was in the Dromdeer Woods area on that date.
“We have spoken to many people but we are aware there are two people specifically that we would like to talk to. A woman who was out walking with her two small children that Thursday around lunchtime and also the male driver of a grey or silver hatchback or jeep type vehicle who was seen in the area around that time.
“I would just like to make a final appeal and to those couple of people specifically.”
The body of the mum of three was found in a parked Dacia Duster SUV in the North Cork forest after firemen extinguished the blaze. The tragic death of the popular family woman shocked the entire community.
Sgt Kelly, who made the radio appeal on C103’s Cork Today Show yesterday, gave a detailed description of the rural location from where gardai are seeking witnesses.
He said: “As regards Dromdeer Woods, if you’re coming from Mallow out the N73 towards Mitchelstown you come to Skenakilla Cross, you immediately turn left towards Doneraile at Griffins pub, you turn up that road and it’s the first turn then into the right into Skenakilla Woods. Now there’s a loop going through the forestry and it’s well used by people out walking, maybe the same people walking that are out the whole time or people trying to get exercise now during the lockdown.
“If anything comes to mind, anybody who we haven’t spoken to who was there on Thursday, February 4, but especially that lady, we would like to talk to them.
“It is indeed [like a jigsaw] and it’s just the fact of speaking to them.”
Ms O’keeffe’s family held a private funeral for the mother, granny and greatgrandmother two weeks ago after her body was released by Cork University Hospital morgue.
They praised the public for “their kindness and support through this very difficult time”.
Ms O’keeffe, a widow for more than 20 years, was described by her neighbours as a caring person who had a heart of gold.