LAST UPDATE | 5 Jan 2019

A MAN IS due in court this evening charged in connection with the death of a young mother-of-two in Co Donegal. 

Jasmine McMonagle, an aspiring actress and model, was found dead at her home when elite members of the Gardaí’s Regional Response Unit stormed the house in Killygordon in the early hours of Friday morning.

She died after suffering suspected knife wounds in a vicious attack.

The 27-year-old had contacted gardai just minutes beforehand to report a domestic disturbance at her home at Forest Park on the outskirts of the East Donegal village.

Ms McMonagle shared the home with her partner.

Gardai received the call from the distressed woman at 4.20am.

However, when they arrived at 4.47am, they were refused entry to the house at Forest Park on the outskirts of the East Donegal village.

At this stage, there was an altercation and it is understood a garda was attacked.

A decision was then made to call in the Regional Response Unit who arrived on scene a short time later.

A man was arrested at around 7.30am and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station. He is expected to appear before a special sitting of Sligo District Court this evening at 8pm charged in connection with the case, Gardaí have confirmed.

The couple’s two children, aged seven and one, were taken to be cared for by family members.

At Letterkenny Garda station, the arrested man was treated by a psychiatrist and is currently being interviewed by gardai.

He can be held for up to 48 hours without being charged.

The scene of the attack was preserved by gardai.

Gardai also carried out door-to-door enquiries yesterday afternoon to determine if neighbours may have witnessed anything that may help their investigation.

Both the state pathologist Linda Mulligan and members of the Garda Technical Bureau from Dublin arrived at the scene of the incident yesterday afternoon.

At around 3pm the body of the woman was removed to Letterkenny General Hospital.

Neighbours have reacted with shock to the death of the woman, who is originally from the border town of Castlefinn.

Neighbour Damian Scanlon, who lives directly across from the scene of the incident, said he was awoken by shouting and screaming at around 5am.

“There was a lot of garda activity but I just thought it was a party or something so I went back to bed.

I awoke again after 7am and this time I saw gardai everywhere including guys with shields and helmets. All of a sudden I saw them burst in the front door and then this fella out and they were shouting at him to “Get on the grass, get on the grass” or something like that.

“A while later I saw a garda taking a child out in his arms and I saw another child with another garda at the front door.

“It was all very dramatic and you just don’t expect it to happen in your own estate and especially in Donegal.”

Local county councillor, Gary Doherty, who is from the same village as Ms McMonagle said the incident was just tragic.

“The whole community is in shock at the tragic news coming from Killygordon this morning.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young woman who has sadly lost her life so prematurely.”

Inspector Michael Harrison gave a brief statement on behalf of gardai outside Letterkenny Garda station yesterday afternoon.

“Gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman at Forest Park, Killygordon, Co Donegal this morning,” he said.

“The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The office of the State Pathologist has been informed and is currently en route to the scene.”

“The assistance of the Garda Technical Bureau has been requested and we expect them to be at the scene sometime this afternoon.”

“A man in his twenties has been arrested and is currently being detained under the terms of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.”

“At this stage of the investigation, I’m not in a position to answer any further questions or make any more statements.”

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