Murder inquiry after body found

Mrs Corrigan's body was discovered by a visiting friend

A 62-year-old woman found dead in her Armagh home was murdered, police have said.

Eileen Corrigan's body was found in her home at Boyds Row, near Loughgall Road, by a friend on Monday afternoon.

Mrs Corrigan, a widow who lived alone, was described by neighbours as "quiet and inoffensive" and was well-known in the area.

Police have appealed for anyone who may have seen her between last Thursday and Monday to contact them.

Detectives believe Mrs Corrigan was last seen alive last Thursday, and Detective Chief Inspector Debbie McMaster said: "Anyone who has seen her in the street or who has had any conversations with her, we would like to speak to them to see if they can help us in any way."

She said their investigation was still at an early stage.

'Terrible shock'

Mrs Corrigan's cousin, Paddy Houlihan, said: "It would have been bad enough to die so suddenly in normal circumstances but for somebody to take her life in this sort of manner, it's totally unbelievable.

"It's just a terrible shock for the entire family."

Armagh mayor Noel Sheridan, who knew Mrs Corrigan, said: "Eileen would have never caused anybody any harm, she was very well-liked and respected in the area, and how anyone could do this to such a woman is beyond me."

It is not the first time tragedy has struck the family. In 1982, her brother-in-law Peter Corrigan was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in Armagh.