Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 29973Other (death – under investigation) · Co. Galway · 21 Sep 2021

Body of 22-year-old woman identified in Kinvara, Co Galway

A body believed to be that of a woman was found washed up on the shore at Doorus, north of Kinvara, Co Galway, on Tuesday 21 September 2021. The deceased was later identified as Laura Vizgirdaite, a 22-year-old woman who had gone missing from Northern Ireland, with her last seen in the Far Circular Road area of Dungannon on 12 September 2021. The body had been in the water for at least one week, and a post-mortem was carried out at University Hospital Galway. Foul play is not suspected in her death, and a Garda investigation remains ongoing.

  1. Reported22 Sep
    4 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A body believed to be that of a woman was found washed up on the shore at Doorus, north of Kinvara, Co Galway.
  • The deceased was identified as Laura Vizgirdaite, a 22-year-old woman.
  • She had gone missing from Northern Ireland and was last seen in the Far Circular Road area of Dungannon on 12 September 2021.
  • The body had been in the water for at least one week.
  • She was believed to have travelled to Clare during her disappearance.
When
The body was found at approximately 11:30am on Tuesday 21 September 2021, though one source gives the date as 22 September.
Other details
Foul play is not suspected in her death.
Investigation
  • Gardaí at Gort are investigating, and the local Coroner was notified.
  • Galway Fire Brigade and Rescue Services from Gort Station assisted with the recovery.
Where
The body was removed to University Hospital Galway where a post-mortem was carried out.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe body was believed to be that of a woman (galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe body was washed up on the shore (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whatThe body had been in the water for at least one week (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whatThe body was understood to have been in the water for at least one week. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA body was discovered on the coastline in south Galway (galwaydaily.com)
  • whatThe remains are understood to be that of a female (galwaydaily.com)
  • whatA young woman's body was found at a beach in Kinvara, Co Galway (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe deceased was named as Laura Vizgirdaite, aged 22 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatShe went missing from Northern Ireland two weeks before being found (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatFoul play is not suspected in her death (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe body was found by a person walking near the shoreline (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatShe was believed to have travelled to Clare during her disappearance (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereA person out walking in the Doorus north area of Kinvara found the body (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whereThe body was removed to University Hospital Galway for a post-mortem (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whereThe body was found in the Doorus area of Kinvara, Co Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe body was found at Doorus, north of Kinvara (galwaydaily.com)
  • whereShe was last seen in the Far Circular Road area of Dungannon on 12 September 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe body was found at around 11:30am (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whenThe discovery was made at approximately 11.30am on Tuesday 22 September 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe body was found around 11:30am on Tuesday morning (galwaydaily.com)
  • whenThe body was found shortly after 11am on Tuesday 21 September 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGalway Fire Brigade and Rescue Services from Gort Station helped with the recovery (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationGardaí at Gort are investigating the discovery (galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe local Coroner was notified (galwaybeo.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationThe Office of the State Pathologist was requested to conduct a post-mortem examination (galwaybeo.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationEfforts to identify the deceased are ongoing (galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationThe outcome of the post-mortem will determine the course of the Garda investigation (galwaybeo.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationGalway Fire Brigade and Rescue services rushed from Gort Station to assist with the recovery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe body was removed to University Hospital Galway where a post-mortem will be carried out. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe local Coroner was notified and the Office of the State Pathologist was requested to conduct a post-mortem examination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA Garda investigation is ongoing (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe body was removed to University Hospital Galway where a post-mortem was carried out (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe local Coroner was notified and the Office of the State Pathologist conducted a post-mortem examination (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe remains were removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Galway (galwaydaily.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Sep2021
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Young woman found dead at Galway beach named locally

    Names the deceased as Laura Vizgirdaite, 22, who went missing from Northern Ireland two weeks prior. Foul play not suspected. Post-mortem carried out at UCHG.

    victim, Laura Vizgirdaite, 22, female, non-irish (judged from name)Laura Vizgirdaite
  2. 22 Sep2021
    Reportedgalwaydaily.com, its first report
    Gardaí investigating after walker finds body on the shore - Galway Daily

    Confirms the body was found around 11:30am, removed to University Hospital Galway mortuary, and that the Office of the State Pathologist was requested to conduct a post-mortem. Gardaí stated efforts to identify the deceased are ongoing and the post-mortem outcome will determine the course of the investigation.

    victim, female
  3. 22 Sep2021
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Gardai investigate as body discovered by walker at remote beach

    Initial report of the discovery before identification; confirms the body had been in the water for at least one week and that the Office of the State Pathologist was requested to conduct a post-mortem.

    victim, female
  4. 22 Sep2021
    Reportedgalwaybeo.ie, first report
    Walker discovers body in Galway as Gardai investigating to identify remains

    Adds the time of discovery (11:30am), the involvement of Galway Fire Brigade and Rescue Services from Gort Station in the recovery, confirmation that the body had been in the water for at least one week, and that the local Coroner was notified and the Office of the State Pathologist was requested to conduct a post-mortem.

    victim, female