Ireland Case No. 0893Murder · Co. Galway · 27 May 2026
Man remanded in custody over murder of Iranian woman in Clifden, Galway
Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, also known as Masuma Sohrabi, a 31-year-old Iranian woman, was found dead on Thursday 28 May 2026 at Waterloo Bridge near an IPAS centre in Clifden, Co Galway, after being reported missing the day before. Ali Sohrabi, a 35-year-old man of no fixed abode who was known to her, was arrested on Saturday 30 May 2026 and charged with her murder. He appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court that night, made no bail application and was remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison. On Wednesday 3 June he appeared by video link and was further remanded in custody to appear again on 17 June 2026, pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested29 May
3 reports - Charged30 May
4 reports - In court30 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The victim is named in court as Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, also known as Masuma Sohrabi and known locally as Ati or Atijafari.
- The victim was a 31-year-old Iranian mother of two young children who worked in a hotel in Clifden.
- The suspect is Ali Sohrabi, a 35-year-old man of no fixed abode, who was known to the victim.
- Both the victim and the suspect are understood to be foreign nationals, and the facts list the suspect as Iranian.
- Where
- The victim's body was found at Waterloo Bridge near the Waterloo House IPAS accommodation on the outskirts of Clifden, and the court gave the offence location as Couravoughil, Clifden.
- When
- The victim was reported missing on Wednesday 27 May 2026, and her body was found on the morning of Thursday 28 May 2026.
- Cause
- The victim suffered fatal slash and stab wounds and catastrophic neck injuries.
- The suspect had a neck wound, which is suspected to have been self-inflicted, and he was treated at University Hospital Galway.
- Investigation
- Gardaí said they were not looking for any other person and were following a definite line of enquiry.
- Charges
- Ali Sohrabi was arrested at 7.45pm on Saturday 30 May 2026 at North West Regional Headquarters, which one report places in Murrough and another in Renmore, and was charged at 8.12pm with murder at dates unknown between 27 and 28 May 2026, contrary to common law. He replied 'no' when the charge was put to him.
- In court
- At a special sitting of Galway District Court on Saturday 30 May 2026, lasting under five minutes and with a Persian interpreter, Judge Fiona Lydon remanded him in custody to Castlerea Prison, no bail application was made, and medical and psychiatric assistance was ordered.
- On Wednesday 3 June 2026 he appeared by video link, and Judge Michael Connellan further remanded him in custody to appear again on 17 June 2026 pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Other details
- The victim had previously secured a court order against a man, and in January 2026 the suspect was fined for breaching a court order to stay away from her.
112 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim had been living in the Clifden area for the past year and was working in a hotel in the town. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPK Joyce runs the Waterloo House accommodation where the victim lived. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was arrested and is currently receiving medical treatment. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth the victim and the man are understood to be foreign nationals. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim and the man were known to one another. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShe had sustained extensive injuries to her neck. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe left the IPAS centre on Wednesday, leaving her two children in the care of other women living there. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man she knew entered the IPAS centre wounded and covered in blood on Thursday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe suspect was found covered in blood with a neck injury early on Thursday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man was charged with the murder of a woman near Clifden in Galway. (rte.ie)
- whatThe body of Masuma Sohrabi was found near an IPAS centre in Clifden, Galway on Thursday morning (irishmirror.ie)
- whatStaff at Waterloo House IPAS accommodation discovered the woman after being unable to find her (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman had catastrophic neck injuries (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was charged in connection with the death (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim is described as an Iranian mother-of-two who had her throat cut (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAli Sohrabi is a 35-year-old man (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAli Sohrabi is of no fixed abode (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was a 31-year-old mother-of-two who worked in a hotel in Clifden. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was an Iranian national also known as Masuma Sohrabi. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe woman was found outside a hotel being used as emergency accommodation near Galway Road in Clifden. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe victim had come to Ireland from Tehran, fleeing the Iranian regime. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe was found dead on Thursday morning at Waterloo Bridge on the outskirts of Clifden. (irishtimes.com)
- whereShe and the man lived at Waterloo House, a property used by IPAS in Clifden. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHer body was taken to the mortuary at Galway University Hospital late on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fatal attack did not happen in the IPAS centre. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe woman's body was found near an international protection centre in Clifden. (rte.ie)
- whereShe was found near the river on Waterloo Bridge on the Galway Road (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder occurred at Couravoughil, Clifden (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe body was discovered at Waterloo Bridge near an IPAS residence on the outskirts of Clifden. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offence occurred at Couravoughil, Clifden, Co Galway, between May 27th and May 28th. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe victim's body was discovered at Waterloo Bridge in Clifden, Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe victim lived near the International Protection Accommodation Service centre in Clifden. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offence occurred at Couravoughil, Clifden, on dates unknown between 27 and 28 May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident unfolded on Thursday, 28 May 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe woman was reported missing on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe body was discovered on Thursday morning. (rte.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred between 27 and 28 May (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe hearing began at 9.30pm on Saturday night and lasted less than five minutes (irishmirror.ie)
- whenSohrabi was charged at 8.12pm at North Western Regional Headquarters (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe body was discovered on Thursday, 28 May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe suspect's neck injury is suspected to have been self-inflicted. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe victim had been attacked and suffered fatal slash and stab wounds. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí were alerted to the scene by staff at the accommodation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGarda divers were searching the nearby river for evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe body was removed to Galway hospital for examination. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn Garda Síochána is not looking for any other person and is following a definite line of enquiry. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe scene was preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe Offices of the Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA post mortem examination will be carried out and its results will assist in determining the course of the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are set to launch a murder investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are trying to establish if the man continued to have contact with Sohrabi in breach of the court order. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man was arrested but taken to University Hospital Galway for treatment of a wound to his neck. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man was in custody under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at a Garda Station in the North West Region. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigators were following a definite line of inquiry and were not looking for anyone else in connection with the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí from the Water Unit were searching the Owenglen River for evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn adult male in his 30s was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are not looking for any other person and are following a definite line of enquiry. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the fatal incident are ongoing (garda.ie)
- investigationDetective Sergeant Frank Hand of Oranmore Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe Offices of the Coroner and the State Pathologist have been notified and a post mortem examination will be carried out (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDet. Sgt. Frank Hand gave evidence of arresting and charging Sohrabi (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDet Sgt Frank Hand of Oranmore Garda station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSohrabi was arrested at the North West Regional Headquarters in Murrough at 7.45pm on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDet Sgt Frank Hand of Oranmore Garda station made the arrest. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe adult male in his 30s arrested in connection with the fatal incident has been charged (garda.ie)
- chargeThe accused was charged with murder, with dates unknown between 27 and 28 May 2026, contrary to common law. (rte.ie)
- chargeSohrabi was charged with the murder of Masoumeh Jafri Manojan (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe is due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court on 30 May 2026 at 9:30pm (garda.ie)
- courtThe accused was brought before a special sitting of Galway District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Fiona Lydon remanded the accused in custody to Castlerea Prison. (rte.ie)
- courtNo bail application was made, as that is a matter for the High Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered that the accused be given medical and psychiatric assistance in Castlerea. (rte.ie)
- courtThe man is due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court on 30 May 2026 at 9:30pm (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe hearing took place at Galway District Court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA Persian interpreter was appointed by the court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDefending solicitor Cathy McDarby said there would not be a bail application (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFree legal aid and the appointment of a Persian interpreter were granted (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMcDarby asked for medical and psychiatric assessments to be made available in custody (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Lydon remanded Sohrabi in custody to appear by video link to Galway District Court the following Wednesday (irishmirror.ie)
- courtAli Sohrabi appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court on Saturday evening. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence counsel Catherine McDarby requested her client receive all appropriate psychiatric and medical assistance. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was no application for bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Fiona Lydon remanded Sohrabi in custody to Castlerea Prison to appear before Galway District Court again on Wednesday via video link. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe suspect appeared before Galway District Court via video-link from Castlerea Prison. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe suspect was remanded in custody to appear again on 17 June 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Fiona Lydon ordered the accused receive all appropriate psychiatric and medical assistance while in custody. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe proceedings were translated into Persian for the accused by an interpreter. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSgt Christy Browne made the remand application to Judge Michael Connellan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence solicitor Cathy McDarby had no objection to the remand application. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim had previously reported the suspect over alleged violence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSohrabi had previously sought a court order placing restrictions on a man who was abusing her. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe was originally from Tehran and came to Ireland to escape the unrest and repressive regime in her home country. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe arrived in a family group that included her two young children. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe had been subjected to gender-based violence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man was ordered to leave when she secured a court order against him last year. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo third party is suspected of having been involved in the man sustaining his injury. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSohrabi worked at a hotel in the area. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHer children attend a local primary school, Scoil Mhuire. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspect previously appeared at the IPAS centre in January, breaching a court order to stay away from the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe suspect was fined and told to stay away from Waterloo House, where the victim lived with her two young children. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim came to Ireland in 2024 in search of a better life. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí and others were aware the victim had concerns about the suspect and was in fear for her safety. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was working in a hotel in Clifden. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe suspect is also an Iranian national. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused replied "no" when the charge was put to him. (rte.ie)
- otherA Persian interpreter was provided at the hearing. (rte.ie)
- otherSohrabi did not speak during the hearing (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSohrabi replied 'No' to the charge (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was known locally as Atijafari or Ati. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe proceedings were translated to Sohrabi in Persian. (irishtimes.com)
- otherChief Supt Gerry Roche of Galway Garda division attended the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Jun2026Man accused of murdering woman in Galway further remanded in custody
First report of the murder charge; details of the remand hearing, arrest, and charge sheet provided.
victim, Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, 31, female, Iranian, non-irishMasoumeh Jafri Manojansuspect, Ali Sohrabi, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ali Sohrabi - 30 May2026Man appears in court accused of murdering mother of two in Co Galway
Details of the court hearing: arrest at North West Regional Headquarters in Murrough at 7.45pm, charge of murder put to him at 8.12pm, his response of 'no', no bail application, remand to Castlerea Prison, and proceedings translated into Persian.
victim, Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, 31, female, Iranian, non-irishMasoumeh Jafri Manojansuspect, Ali Sohrabi, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ali Sohrabi - 30 May2026Man remanded in custody in connection with murder of woman in Clifden
Details of the remand hearing at Galway District Court on 30 May 2026, including the appointment of a Persian interpreter, the defending solicitor's request for medical and psychiatric assessments in custody, and Judge Fiona Lydon's order to remand Sohrabi in custody to appear by video link the following Wednesday.
victim, Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, female, non-irish (judged from name)Masoumeh Jafri Manojansuspect, Ali Sohrabi, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ali Sohrabi - 30 May2026Man set for court appearance following death of Iranian woman in Clifden
Confirms the man in his 30s has been formally charged and is due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court on 30 May 2026 at 9:30pm. Names the victim locally as Masuma Sohrabi and provides details on how her body was discovered by IPAS staff.
victim, Masuma Sohrabi, female, Iranian, non-irishMasuma Sohrabisuspect, 30s, male - 30 May2026Man charged with murder of woman in Galway
First report of the murder charge, the court appearance and remand, and the cause of death.
accused, Ali Sohrabi, 35, male, namedAli Sohrabivictim, Masoumeh Jafri Manojan, 30s, femaleMasoumeh Jafri Manojan - 30 May202630/05/2026 Update (3) Court Appearance: Fatal Incident, Galway Road, Clifden, Co. Galway - 28th May 2026
Confirms the suspect has been charged and provides the date and time of his court appearance at a special sitting of Galway District Court.
suspect, 30s, male - 29 May2026Murder suspect in Clifden was previously fined for trying to contact victim
Reveals the suspect was previously fined in January 2026 for breaching a court order to stay away from the victim. Adds details about the victim's background (arrived in Ireland 2024, worked in a Clifden hotel, known locally as 'Atijafari' or 'Athija'), the suspect's suspected self-inflicted neck injury, a community vigil, and tributes from Waterloo House manager PK Joyce and Scoil Mhuire principal Dara McAleer.
victim, Masuma Sohrabi, 31, female, Iranian, non-irishMasuma Sohrabisuspect, 30s, male, Iranian, non-irish - 29 May2026Woman killed in Clifden went to Garda and courts in effort to escape violent relationship
Adds details about Sohrabi's prior court order against the abuser, her background as an Iranian refugee who arrived in 2024, CCTV and telephone records investigation, the man entering the IPAS centre wounded and leading gardaí to her body by the Owenglin river, and confirmation that the fatal attack did not occur in the IPAS centre.
victim, Masuma Sohrabi, 31, female, Iranian, non-irishMasuma Sohrabisuspect, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 29 May2026Mum 'found with throat slashed' after being reported missing named
Names the victim as Masuma Sohrabi (known locally as 'Athija'), confirms she was found outside Waterloo House IPAS accommodation, provides her background (from Tehran, mother of a five-year-old girl and nine-year-old boy, working in a local hotel, living in Clifden for a year), notes the suspect is a man in his 30s known to the victim and both are foreign nationals, and reports that the victim had previously raised concerns about the suspect over alleged violence.
victim, Masuma Sohrabi, 31, female, Iranian, non-irishMasuma Sohrabisuspect, 30s, male, non-irish (judged from name)