Thursday 29 October 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. 8495Murder · Co. Kilkenny

Gardaí renew appeal over 2004 murder of Paiche Unyolo Onyemaechi

Paiche Unyolo Onyemaechi, a 25-year-old woman with two children, was last seen leaving her family home at St. Herblain Park, Kilcohan, Waterford, on Thursday 8 July 2004. Her husband, Chika Onyemaechi, reported her missing on Saturday 10 July 2004. Two women walking along Brenar Bridge near Piltown, County Kilkenny, found her body on Friday 23 July 2004 in a field beside a river that runs under the bridge. Her husband disappeared on Tuesday 27 July 2004. No person has been brought to justice, and gardaí renewed their appeal for information on 23 July 2026, 20 years after the murder.

  1. Reported23 Jul
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Paiche Unyolo Onyemaechi, a 25-year-old woman, was murdered in July 2004.
Where
  • She was last seen leaving her family home at St. Herblain Park, Kilcohan, Waterford, at 9:30am on 8 July 2004.
  • One source says she was seen in Pickardstown, County Waterford, at 5pm on 8 July 2004.
  • Her body was found in a field beside a river that runs under Brenar Bridge near Piltown, South Kilkenny.
When
  • Her husband, Chika Onyemaechi, reported her missing on Saturday 10 July 2004.
  • Two women walking along the bridge found her body on Friday 23 July 2004.
Other details
  • Her husband disappeared on Tuesday 27 July 2004.
  • She had two children and the appeal comes 20 years after the murder.
Charges
No arrest or charge has been reported in the case.
Investigation
  • No person has been brought to justice for the murder.
  • Gardaí renewed their appeal on 23 July 2026 for anyone with information who has not yet spoken to them.
  • Gardaí say new information may come to light because of the passage of time.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are appealing again for information about the murder of a woman found dead near a bridge in County Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereShe was seen in Pickardstown, County Waterford, at 5pm on 8 July 2004. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereHer body was found by walkers near Piltown in South Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenShe died in July 2004 after vanishing from her home. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenHer last known sighting was on Thursday 8 July 2004, when she left her family home at St. Herblain Park, Kilcohan, Waterford, at 9:30am. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenHer husband reported her missing on Saturday 10 July 2004. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenTwo women walking along Brenar Bridge near Piltown found her body on Friday 23 July 2004 in a field beside a river that runs under the bridge. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationNo person has been brought to justice for the murder. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are asking anyone with information who has not yet spoken to them to come forward. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationGardaí say new information may now come to light because of the passage of time. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe appeal comes 20 years after the murder. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherPaiche Unyolo Onyemaechi was 25 years old when she died. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherShe had two children. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherHer husband disappeared on Tuesday 27 July 2004. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Jul2026
    Reportedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Kilkenny garda appeal as mystery remains over dead body found by walkers

    Cold-case appeal marking 20 years since the 2004 murder; no arrest or charge reported. The article gives the discovery date and last-sighting details but not the exact date of death.

    victim, Paiche Unyolo Onyemaechi, 25, femalePaiche Unyolo Onyemaechi