Irish plea over African's murder

By James Helm
BBC Dublin correspondent

Irish police have visited their UK counterparts to find out about ritual killings

Police in Ireland are appealing for help in tracking down the killer of an African woman whose headless body was discovered three weeks ago.

The body of 25-year-old Paiche Unyolo Onyemaechie, the daughter of Malawi's chief justice, was found near a stream in a rural area of the south-east.

It is thought her remains may have lain there for more than a week.

Police are investigating whether her death may have been some sort of ritualistic killing.

Ms Unyolo Onyemaechi arrived in Ireland more than three years ago and lived with her Nigerian husband and their two young children in the city of Waterford.

Her father, Malawi's Chief Justice Leonard Unyolo, travelled to Ireland after receiving news of her death.

Detectives are keen to trace the victim's husband, Chika, who is missing.

Ritual killings

Inspector Ray McHugh, from the Irish police force, the Garda Siochana, said: "We've got a lot of assistance from the African population here in Ireland and indeed the local population down in the south-east.

"We believe there are other people with certain information who would be able to progress this investigation, so basically what we're asking is for those people who do have some information to please make it known to us."

In recent days Irish detectives have visited British counterparts in London to find out about ritual killings.

They are investigating whether that may have played a part in this murder.

The woman's body was found in County Kilkenny on 23 July and she was buried in Waterford a week later. The murder, and the nature of the killing, has horrified Ireland's growing African community.