Gardaí Appeal After Body Of Woman Found

A post mortem examination is under way on the body of woman recovered from the Grand Canal near Vickerstown, Co Laois.

The woman's remains were pulled from the canal shortly after 7.00pm on Saturday.

A man in his 40s was also taken from the water and was brought to the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, where his condition was described as stable.

It is understood the car in which the woman had been travelling with the man and their four children had broken down close to the canal shortly before she died.

It is believed someone had helped the couple to push their car to the side of the road and that the couple then walked away from the car to look for further assistance.

Gardai investigating the incident are appealing for anyone who was in the area on Friday evening to contact them at Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 8674100.

They would particularly like the driver of a dark coloured SUV type vehicle, who stopped and gave assistance at the scene of the incident, to contact them.

(DW)