GARDAI HAVE FORMALLY launched a murder investigation into the deaths of Jolanta Lubiene and her eight-year-old daughter Enrika.
The 27-year-old Lithuanian national and her daughter were savagely attacked in their home in Killorglin, County Kerry last weekend.
Postmortems carried out on the tragic mother and daughter by assistant state pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster, found the pair died from knife wounds.
Detectives investigating the murder believe the killer would have been wearing heavily blood-stained clothes and been in an agitated state, according to RTE News.
However, a murder weapon was not discovered in the family home in Langsford Down housing estate.
A massive manhunt has been launched to find the killer with some reports suggesting up to 50 national and local gardaí will be involved in the operation.
Gardai said the pair were last seen alive at a supermarket in Killorglin at around 1.45pm on Saturday afternoon.
Their bodies were discovered in their home in Killorglin by gardaí at 8.30pm on Sunday evening.
Gardaí believe Jolanta may have known her killer as there was no sign of a forced entry into the house.
Forensic examinations were continuing at the the scene yesterday afternoon and gardai were carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the area.
Gardaí said an incident room had been setup in Killarney Garda Station and urged anyone with information to get in contact with them.
Shocked
Local Kerry County Councillor Michael Cahill today said the tragedy had shocked the entire community.
“The lady was relatively well-known because she had worked in a number of different jobs in the town,” he told TheJournal.ie.
“She used to work in PJ’s Supermarket in Kilorglin and her daughter went to Scoil Mhuire and was well-known there.”
It is sad for all concerned- it’s very tragic.
Jolanta worked for St Joesph’s Nursing Home since May 2011 and staff said she was a “wonderful worker” and the patients thought she was “marvellous”.
Scoil Mhuire National School, where Enrika was in second class, released a statement last night offering condolences to her family and the community in Killorglin who knew her.
It said the school was “deeply shocked and saddened at the terrible tragedy that took place in our community, resulting in the sudden and untimely death of Enrika Lubyte and her mother.”
Enrika was a beautiful child who was loved by all who knew her. She was friendly, kind, caring and considerate of others.
She will be sadly missed by her fellow pupils and school staff.
Anyone with information should call Killarney Garda Station: 064 663 1222
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