Grandson of strangled Tipperary pensioner describes chilling moment he found her 'petrified' body
Exclusive - Gardai have launched a murder investigation after Josephine Ray, 89, was found strangled in her bed in her home in St Joseph’s Park in Nenagh, Co Tipperary on Sunday. Her devastated grandson spoke of the moment he made the horror discover
A grandson of murdered pensioner Josephine Ray has described the moment he found her “petrified” body on Sunday. Gardai have launched a murder investigation after mother-of-four Josephine (89) was found strangled in her bed in her home in St Joseph’s Park in Nenagh, Co Tipperary on Sunday.
Now speaking exclusively to this paper following the tragedy, her devastated grandson Daniel Ray O’Brien spoke of the moment he made the horror discovery of her body.
“So my father rang me and said he heard from a neighbour across the road that my grandmother is very sick down there and to go down and run down to her straight away. So I just live around the corner from her and I ran down straight away and there she was in the bed with her two hands up by her head, her left arm up by her left ear, her right arm up by her right ear with two clenched fists and her eyes wide open.
READ MORE: Elderly woman found dead in her Tipperary home named as murder probe launched
READ MORE: Family of Tipperary grandmother 'strangled to death' speaks out as murder investigation launched
“There was a mark on her forehead, a bruise, and a mark on her cheek and a really severe black eye on her left eye. She had some blood in her mouth as well and marks on her neck,” he said.
“After that I stayed with her from the moment I saw her until the ambulance came.”
Shocked Daniel, who described his grandmother as “full of life” and as “Nenagh’s most famous character” said he initially believed she had died of natural causes - but the injuries then became more apparent to him.
“The ambulance men came in and checked it all out, they told the guards that the bruises on her face were due to no medical reason. At first I thought she took a heart attack. She was very cold and she already had rigour mortis set in. So she was there a good few hours.
“But then I just kind of had a look around and seen all the marks on her face. I said this looks like she was petrified. Her face looked petrified in the bed.”
Horrified Daniel says the image of what he saw is now with him forever. “I can’t get it out of my head. I had to go down to the hospital last night just to talk to a counsellor to try and mentally cope with it. I will never get it out of my head, never. Never in my whole life. No matter how many months of counselling, I know in my own heart and soul that that’s there for the rest of my life.”
Daniel says he suspects a number of people known to his grandmother may have murdered her - and claimed he and other family members had expressed concerns to gardai previously. Speaking today, Daniel says he believes the attack could have been prevented - and he called for those responsible to come forward and confess.
“I felt a lot of rage and I felt like the system let my grandmother down. The justice system as well as the county council. My grandmother was so afraid to say it herself. We tried our best to act on her behalf. This could have been well prevented months ago,” he said. I feel she was failed by the State. It would 100 per cent have been prevented."
Paying tribute to his grandmother, Daniel said she was known across Nenagh as a character and someone who loved Irish music.
“Nenagh’s most famous character, she really was. She has five daughters, one passed away three years ago. She was a very strong and tough woman. Her father lived to over 100. She loved the glamour, jewellery and traditional Irish music. If she heard there was a dance in the town she’d be in it. She was full of life.
“She was a character, she was old fashioned but of great spirit. She always reminded me of Mrs Brown, the exact same character. She was a proper Irish Nanny, Granny, Mammy and as tough as nails and quick and smart.”
In a message to those responsible for his grandmother’s killing he said: “I hope one of them comes and just lets us know that they done it and we can bring our grandmother home to rest where she belongs and let us actually have justice this time."
Also speaking to this paper, local councillor Seamus Morris described the victim as a "fashionista," who was well known in the town of Nenagh.
"If everyone in the world was like Joan it would be a perfect world. She was very much a fashionista and that's why she was so well known around the town. She liked to dress well. She was very much part of the social fabric of Nenagh and particularly St Joseph's Park where she lived.
"It's only coming through now that they've changed their investigation to a murder. It's a shock to everybody. She was 89 and she didn't look a day of it. You wouldn't know she was that age at all. You'd often see her around the town dressed to the nines."
Gardai believe Ms Ray, who was known to friends and family as both ‘Josie’ and ‘Joan’ was strangled to death by a person known to her. A senior investigating officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation while a Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has also been assigned to support the family of Ms Ray who was well known in the community in Nenagh.
An Garda Síochána has made an appeal for witnesses, particularly those who were in the St Joseph’s Park area of Nenagh, between 8pm last Saturday and midday on Sunday, to come forward. Additionally, individuals with video recordings, including motorists with dash cams, from the area within the timeframe are asked to provide footage to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station at 067 50450, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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