Murder victim Josephine Ray 'standing on the street in terror' the night before she was murdered, grandson says
Exclusive: As family gather for her funeral this morning, Josephine's grandson detailed what occurred the night before she was found dead in her home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary
Murder victim Josephine Ray was left standing terrified on the street the night before she was killed, her grandson has claimed.
Daniel Ray O’Brien discovered the 89-year-old’s body in the bedroom of her home in St Joseph’s Park in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on Sunday.
She had been strangled and had suffered facial injuries.
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As her devastated family gathered at her wake on Thursday, Daniel revealed gardai were called on Saturday night following a violent incident.
It is understood officers did respond to the scene of a disturbance that evening but that no action was taken.
When contacted, the Garda Press Office refused to comment with a spokesperson saying: “No further information is available as this is an ongoing murder investigation.”
Daniel said he believes gardai and the State should have acted on what he claims were multiple complaints about violent incidents over the year before his grandmother’s death.
He added: “This was well known months ago and reported numerous times by me over the months to the County Council and the guards. The guards called up the night before she died and she told them and pleaded with them herself.
“She was terrified and that has been going on for over a year.”
Daniel previously told the Irish Mirror Josephine had expressed concerns for her safety numerous times, adding: “She told me ‘they want me dead’.
“She put up a fight I think because she would have.”
And he recalled the moment he made the 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 and to 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.
“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.
“I stayed with her from the moment I saw her until the ambulance came.”
Josephine, who was known locally as Josie or Joan, is to be buried on Friday morning following a funeral service.
Gardai have yet to make any arrests in relation to her murder.
They have made an appeal for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who were in the St Joseph’s Park area of Nenagh between 8pm last Saturday and midday on Sunday.
Additionally, individuals with video recordings, including motorists with dash cams, from the area and within the timeframe are asked to provide the footage to investigating officers.
Anyone with information can contact Nenagh Garda station on 067 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
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