Gardai investigating the discovery of a woman’s body in Limerick city, do not believe she died violently, writes David Raleigh.

The deceased, aged in her mid 30s, was found by a friend around 11.50am, underneath a stairway near a basement at the foot of an apartment block on Catherine Street.

The woman was well known to gardai as a member of the homeless community.

According to a garda source, “drug paraphernalia” was discovered next to the woman’s body.

The office of the Limerick Coroner has been notified and the body is due to be transferred to University Hospital Limerick for a post mortem by a local pathologist.

“There is nothing at this stage to suggest foul play. It looks as if it was a tragic incident.

Another homeless person raised the alarm,” said Superintendent Derek Smart, based at Henry Street Garda Station.