Heartbreaking: Laois locals pay tribute to victim of fatal Portlaoise assault

Laois locals are paying tribute to the victim of a fatal assault in Portlaoise that occurred this past weekend.

The victim was named locally as Ms Adina Raluca Constantin, who sadly died during the assault on Sunday July 5.

In a touching mark of respect, locals have left flowers at the scene of the fatal assault on Portlaoise’s Church Street, and have reacted with shock and sadness online.

A man in his 70’s remains detained at a station in the Garda Eastern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Gardaí continue to cordon off the scene to traffic.

“She was a wonderful person. Thoughts are with your family during this difficult time,” one person wrote.

“Rest in Peace... what's happening to Portlaoise?” another person said.

“So heartbreaking,” another user wrote.

“This is such a horrendous thing to happen. May she rest in peace,” another person said.

Monsignor John Byrne is Parish Priest of Portlaoise parish and expressed sympathies to the family.

“It’s a tragedy. We offer our very sincere sympathies to all her family. It’s not something you expect to happen,” he said.

Laois TD Brian Stanley said the incident had left people in the area shocked. His constituency office is also on Church Street where the incident took place.

“People are shocked on the street. People are very concerned about it. This woman would have been known in the street and would have got on well with people in the area,” he said to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Gardaí and emergency services had responded to the incident at a domestic residence on Church Street shortly after 12:30pm on Sunday afternoon, July 5. The woman aged in her 50s was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A man in his 70s was arrested at the scene and detained at a station in the Garda Eastern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The section of Church Street from Portlaoise Courthouse past the Dunamaise Arts Centre remains cordoned off by gardaí as of Monday morning, July 6.

Gardaí carried out door to door enquiries on Sunday night, with the Garda Forensics team remaining at the scene until late that night. CCTV footage on the street was also gathered by Gardaí.