A BODY has been recovered by Gardaí searching for a woman last seen being forced into a car in Co Wicklow.
The discovery was made in the Puck’s Castle area of south Co Dublin yesterday afternoon by officers investigating the disappearance of accountancy student Jastine Valdez, who has been missing since Saturday.
In the hours before the body was discovered amongst heavy gorse, a purse and identification card belonging to Ms Valdez - who moved to Ireland from the Philippines in 2015 - were found in the nearby Rathmichael area.
The 24-year-old, who studied at the Tallaght Institute of Technology and also worked part-time at a restaurant in Bray, was last seen walking towards her home in the Co Wicklow town of Eniskerry on Saturday evening. Witnesses reported Ms Valdez being bundled into a dark Nissan Qashqai at around 6.15pm.
The discovery of the as-yet unidentified body follows the shooting dead of a man on Sunday evening after officers investigating the suspected abduction of Ms Valdez confronted the 40-year-old father-of-two in a car park in south Dublin.
He was named as Mark Hennessy, a construction worker of Woodbrook Estate, Boghall Road in Bray.
Gardai officers arrived at the scene in Cherrywood Business Park after a member of the public spotted the Nissan vehicle at around 8pm.
Officers confronted Mr Hennessy, who was reportedly carrying a knife, before he was shot a number of times and fatally injured.
The Nissan vehicle being hunted by Gardai was recovered at the scene, but no trace of Ms Valdez was found.
The fatal shooting is now being investigated by the Gardaí Ombudsman Commission.
Neighbours of Mr Hennessy’s parents, who live in the Ballybrack area of south Co Dublin, told reporters that the deceased was remembered as a “quiet young man” when growing up. One said he came from a “well-respected family”.
Following the discovery of the body yesterday afternoon, Gardai appealed for privacy for the Valdez family.
Last night, a vigil for Ms Valdez was held at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Dublin’s Bachelor’s Walk area, organised by members of the Irish Filipino community.
