Woman found dead in Sligo named locally

By Sorcha Crowley

Neighbours of a woman found dead in “unexplained circumstances” in Sligo town last evening have expressed their shock and sadness at her sudden death.

She’s been named locally as mother-of-two Angela Canavan, originally from Mayo but she had been living alone at St John’s Terrace in the town for the past six or seven years. She was believed to be in her late fifties and was regularly seen out walking her little Jack Russell dog called Millie.

Her body was discovered at her home shortly after 8.30pm Monday evening and the emergency services were called to the scene. It’s understood she had sustained injuries to her head.

“She was a very quiet lady,” said next-door neighbour Ann Byrne, who added that one of Ms Canavan’s two adult sons had been visiting her on Monday. “She was always walking her dog. I saw her yesterday morning. We heard nothing last evening until we saw the ambulance and the Garda cars. You’d never hear a sound from her, she used to give us sweets and we’d throw logs in over the wall to her. She was a perfect neighbour,” she said.

“She was a lovely person. She loved doing the garden,” said another elderly neighbour who did not wish to be named. “I saw her on St Patrick’s Day with her daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. I seen her yesterday after 2pm with her dog,” she added.

Ms Canavan’s remains were removed from the scene at midday for a post-mortem examination to be carried out by the State Pathologist at Sligo University Hospital a short distance away.

The Garda Technical Bureau have carried out a technical examination at the scene which remains sealed off with Garda crime scene tape.

A Garda spokesperson said the result of the post-mortem examination will determine the course of their investigation.