People began receiving a video connected to a murder investigation in Offaly before they even discovered a woman had died, according to Newstalk Reporter Ellen Butler. 

Gardaí yesterday launched a murder investigation following the death of a woman in Offaly. 

A 16-year-old boy, who was known to the woman, was arrested following what Gardaí described as a "violent incident" at a house in Rahan outside Tullamore on Friday afternoon. 

Gardaí said images were being shared on the incident online and urged people not to circulate them. 

Ellen told The Anton Savage Show videos are also being shared online showing “extremely graphic detail”. 

“Even the experienced investigators who came to the scene were taken aback by what they found,” she said. 

She said video footage of the incident can be useful to Gardaí “in a sense” - but it should “absolutely not be consumed by anybody”. 

“You’re not responsible for what you receive, but you do have control as to what you share,” she said. 

“A local school was appealing to parents and young people themselves to be on the look out.” 

The rapid sharing of this video is an “element of the world we’re living in”, according to Ellen. 

“This footage was uploaded so soon after the incident and could be disseminated and circulated so quickly that people were receiving it before they even knew what happened,” she said. 

“Gardaí have been liaising with Coimisiún na Meán, the successor of the Broadcasting Authority to have it removed from social media.” 

Gardaí and media at the murder scene in Rahan outside Tullamore in County Offaly, 29/09/2023. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The 16-year-old boy arrested today remains in custody in a local station near Tullamore. 

Ellen explained he was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which means he can be in custody for 24 hours before he must be charged or released. 

“That doesn’t include any rest breaks, and because he is a minor he must be questioned in the presence of a parent or guardian,” she said. 

“They’re not looking for anyone else [to arrest].” 

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