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. 0734Murder · Co. Galway · 27 May 2025

Man charged with murder of Masoumeh Manojan in Galway found dead in prison yard

Ali Sohrabi (35), an Iranian man of no fixed abode, is accused of murdering Masoumeh Jafri Manojan (31), an Iranian national and mother of two who had lived in Clifden for about 18 months. Her body was found in late May near Waterloo Bridge in Clifden, close to the IPAS centre where she lived, with extensive neck injuries, and Sohrabi led gardaí to it and said he had killed her. He was charged, appeared before Galway District Court and was remanded in custody with no bail application, while awaiting a trial date. On 25 June 2026 he was found dead at Castlerea Prison, with suicide suspected and foul play not suspected, and gardaí, the Irish Prison Service and the Inspector of Prisons are investigating the death.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged25 Jun
    2 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ali Sohrabi (35), an Iranian man of no fixed abode, was charged with the murder of Masoumeh Jafri Manojan.
  • The victim was a 31-year-old Iranian national from Tehran and a mother of two young children, who arrived in Ireland in 2024 and had lived in Clifden for about 18 months.
  • Sohrabi was the victim's estranged husband, described in sources as her ex-husband or estranged spouse.
Where
The victim's body was found at Waterloo Bridge in Clifden, Co Galway, near the IPAS centre or Waterloo House accommodation where she lived.
When
  • The killing is alleged to have taken place between 27 and 28 May at Couravoughil, Clifden, and the body was found in late May; the case record gives 2025 while the articles give 2026.
  • Sohrabi was found dead on 25 June 2026 in a cell or yard at Castlerea Prison, where he had been isolated from other prisoners since being committed to custody.
Weapon
The victim had extensive slash and stab wounds, with one source describing a significant slash to her throat.
Cause
  • The victim had sustained extensive injuries to her neck.
  • The suspicion is that Sohrabi died by suicide, and foul play is not suspected.
Investigation
  • Sohrabi led gardaí to the victim's body and said he had killed her; key facts also say he cut his own throat and was first taken to hospital.
  • Gardaí, the Irish Prison Service and the Inspector of Prisons are investigating the circumstances of his death.
Charges
Sohrabi was charged with the murder of Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, and Detective Sergeant Frank Hand gave evidence of his arrest and charge at North Western Regional Headquarters at 8.12pm.
In court
Sohrabi appeared before Galway District Court and was remanded in custody, with his solicitor Cathy McDarby saying there would be no bail application.
Other details
The victim had previously sought a court order against a man she alleged was abusing her, and that man had reportedly been removed from the IPAS centre.
44 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAli Sohrabi, 35, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody after being charged with murdering a woman near Clifden, Co Galway (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSohrabi was found dead in his cell at Castlerea Prison (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim sustained extensive injuries to her neck (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was 31, a mother of two young children, originally from Tehran, Iran, who arrived in Ireland in 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim had been living in Clifden for about 18 months and worked in a local hotel (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAli Sohrabi, 35, was found dead in a yard of Castlerea Prison on 25 June 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSohrabi was an Iranian national of no fixed abode. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSohrabi had been isolated from other prisoners since being committed to custody. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMs Monojan, 31, was a mother of two young children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSohrabi was found near the scene covered in blood and had led locals to her body by the Waterloo Bridge. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe had cut his own throat and was initially taken to hospital to be treated. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe had been estranged from Ms Monojan, who had recently obtained a court order against him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused man was Ali Sohrabi, who was accused of killing his estranged spouse. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe victim's body was discovered at Waterloo Bridge in Clifden, near the Ipas centre where she lived (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing was alleged to have happened at a Galway IPAS centre. (extra.ie)
  • whereShe was found dead close to the Waterloo House accommodation where she had been living. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe killing happened near an IPAS centre in Clifden where the victim had been living. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe victim's body was discovered in late May 2026 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder occurred between May 27 and 28 at Couravoughil, Clifden. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe killing happened in May 2026. (gript.ie)
  • causeThe suspicion is that he died by suicide. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe victim had extensive slash and stab wounds. (gript.ie)
  • investigationAll deaths in custody are investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí, the Irish Prison Service and the Inspector of Prisons will all investigate the death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSohrabi led gardaí to the victim's body and said he had killed her. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe Irish Prison Service confirmed the death of a person in custody at Castlerea Prison. (gript.ie)
  • investigationFoul play is not suspected in the death. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating all the circumstances of the inmate's death on Thursday, June 25, at Castlerea Prison. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe death will also be investigated by the Irish Prison Service and the Inspector of Prisons. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe man was accused of murder. (extra.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with the murder of Masoumeh Jafri Manojan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Irish Prison Service confirmed a death in custody at Castlerea Prison on 25 June 2026 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtSohrabi was on remand and awaiting a trial date over the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtSohrabi appeared before Galway District Court the previous month with a visible covering over his neck area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDetective Sergeant Frank Hand gave evidence of arresting and charging Sohrabi at 8.12pm at North Western Regional Headquarters. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDefending solicitor Cathy McDarby said there would not be an application for bail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFoul play is not suspected in Sohrabi's death (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim had previously sought a court order placing restrictions on a man allegedly abusing her (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused man was found dead in prison. (extra.ie)
  • otherPK Joyce runs the Waterloo House accommodation where the victim lived. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim had two children, a five-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe victim had come to Ireland from Iran and was living in an IPAS centre in Conamara. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe victim had reportedly previously reported the accused for alleged violence, and he had been removed from the IPAS centre. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe accused was found dead in Castlerea Prison. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Jun2026
    Othergript.ie, first report
    Iranian man accused of Clifden murder found dead in prison - Gript

    Reports that the man accused of the Clifden murder was found dead in Castlerea prison, and that gardaí and prison authorities are investigating the death.

    victim, Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, female, non-irish (judged from name)Masoumeh Jafri Manojanaccused, Ali Sohrabi, 30s, male, Iranian, named, non-irishAli Sohrabi
  2. 25 Jun2026
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man charged with murder of Masoumeh Manojan in Galway found dead in prison yard

    Reports that Ali Sohrabi was found dead in Castlerea Prison on 25 June 2026, suspected suicide, while on remand awaiting trial for the murder of Masoumeh Manojan. Provides details of the murder, the prior court order breach, the community response, and the court proceedings at which he was charged.

    victim, Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, 31, female, non-irish (judged from name)Masoumeh Jafri Manojansuspect, Ali Sohrabi, 35, male, Iranian, named, non-irishAli Sohrabi
  3. 25 Jun2026
    Otherextra.ie, follow-up
    Man accused of murder of ex wife at Galway IPAS centre found dead in prison

    The article text is a search-widget template with no body content; the facts below come only from the headline. No existing case matches this incident.

    accused, malevictim, female
  4. 25 Jun2026
    Chargedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man accused of murder near Clifden Ipas centre found dead in prison

    Reports that the accused was found dead in prison, provides background on the victim (Iranian national, 31, mother of two, living in Clifden for 18 months, worked in a local hotel, had sought a protection order), and includes the Irish Prison Service's statement on the death in custody.

    victim, Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, 31, female, Iranian, non-irishMasoumeh Jafri Manojanaccused, Ali Sohrabi, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ali Sohrabi