A mum-of-two has died after her throat was allegedly slashed outside a hotel in Ireland – with revelations emerging that she had previously expressed fears about her suspected killer to police.
She has been identified as 31 year old Masuma Sohrabi, an Iranian woman known locally in Galway as Atijafari. She was discovered dead with horrific neck injuries outside an International Protection Accommodation Service centre in Co Galway after being reported missing on Wednesday (May 27).
The tragedy occurred near Galway Road in Clifden on Thursday. Police, known as Gardaí, were summoned to the scene by staff at the accommodation centre.
A man, also in his 30s, has been arrested and is currently undergoing medical treatment. Both individuals are believed to be foreign nationals.
An Garda Síochána has confirmed it is not searching for any other person regarding this incident at present and is pursuing a definite line of investigation.
The victim, whom most friends knew simply as ‘Athija’, leaves behind a five year old daughter and nine year old son – both pupils at a local Clifden school. She had been employed at a hotel in the locality, according to residents, and had arrived in the country from Tehran, having escaped the Iranian regime in pursuit of a brighter future.
PK Joyce, who operates the Waterloo House accommodation where she resided, delivered an emotional tribute to her, telling the Irish Mirror how she had endeavoured to master English and Irish, and provide her children with enhanced opportunities in life.
“I’d like you to pass the message on to people that she was a lovely lady. She was a great mother. She had come here for a new life and she really fit in extraordinarily well,” Mr Joyce said.
“She had very little English when she arrived but she strived to learn and a cúpla focal as Gaeilge as well. She really did want to try and fit in and make a home for her two children and she did that successfully up to yesterday.
“She was loved by us all and had a big impact on all our lives with what she had come through. We are just so saddened that she’s gone in the way that she has. We just want people to know that she was a lovely lady.”
She and her children had been residing in the Clifden area for the past year, during which time she was employed at a local hotel in the town.
Her remains are due to be removed from the location where she was found. Gardaí confirmed this would take place in due course, with a post-mortem examination scheduled to follow.
Although it is understood that a murder investigation is expected to be launched, Gardaí have stated that the findings of the post-mortem examination will play a crucial role in determining the direction of the ongoing investigation.