Gardai are investigating whether tragic mother-of-two Lisa Thompson may have inadvertently let her killer into her home.
We have learned that officers are probing whether Ms Thompson, 52, knew her killer, and may have invited them into her home in Ballymun, north Dublin, before they stabbed her 12 times in a frenzied attack, sometime before Tuesday.
A post-mortem examination completed by the State Pathologist yesterday found Ms Thompson died from stab injuries.
READ MORE: Timeline of events after mum-of-two Lisa Thompson found dead at Dublin home with 12 stab wounds
And it is also understood that gardai now fear the well-known youth worker could have lain dead at her home in Sandyhill Gardens since last Saturday. Her body was only discovered after a local rang 999 for an ambulance at around 3.30pm on Tuesday.
However, officers remain baffled as to the motive behind Ms Thompson’s murder — and have established no known disputes or arguments between her and any other person to date, it is understood.
Gardai are now speaking to various people about her last known movements — as well as trawling through any social media interactions she may have had. And it is further understood that gardai have found no signs of any forced entry or break-in at her home, where she lived alone.
Her two teenage children, who were residing elsewhere, were not in the house at the time her body was discovered. It is understood that gardai have not identified any one suspect.
Gardai on Wednesday announced a full murder probe into the death — and said they were keeping an “open mind” in relation to it.
“So An Garda Siochana is following all lines of enquiries at the moment. We’re keeping an open mind in relation to the investigation and I can assure the community that An Garda Siochana’s best team is in place to make sure this investigation is fully carried out to bring the culprit to justice,” Superintendent Darren McCarthy said at a press conference on Tuesday.
His comments come as another relative, Mark Fitzpatrick, took to social media to pay tribute to Ms Thompson, who he called his “fairy godmother”.
“Lisa what can I say I’m lost for words honestly I can’t understand how and why some horrible b*****d would do this to such a harmless kind and loving person,” he posted to Facebook.
“Anytime we needed anything and I mean anything you were always there. What a wonderful lady you really were Lisa. We love you and you will be sadly missed and never forgotten by all of us. RIP fairy Godmother.”
As part of the garda appeal on Tuesday, Supt McCarthy confirmed Ms Thompson was the victim of “a serious physical assault” and she had “suffered significant injuries.” He stated that a technical and forensic examination of the house was still ongoing by the Garda Technical Bureau.
The victim’s body was also still undergoing a post-mortem examination, which was being carried out by the Chief State Pathologist, Dr Linda Mulligan.
Superintendent McCarthy added that an incident room has been established at Ballymun garda station — and a family liaison officer has been appointed to the victim’s family.
“Lisa was a 52-year-old woman, she was well known in her local community, which is shocked over the violent and traumatic death of Lisa,” the Superintendent said. I would like to thank the community for the cooperation and assistance received so far and information received from across the community.”
Anyone who has information on Ms Thompson’s movements from Saturday, May 7 to Tuesday, May 10 have been asked to contact Ballymun gardai.
Gardai are also appealing for any video footage from the Sandyhill area of Ballymun, and the surrounding roads of Marewood Crescent, Balbutcher Lane for that period.
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