Murdered beggar sent cash for family's education
THE Romanian woman found brutally murdered in the Phoenix Park was raising money to help put her two children through college at home, gardai have revealed.
Officers have established that Eugenia Bratis (50) travelled to Ireland alone 12 months ago to help raise funds for the education of her son and daughter, both in their late teens.
Unable to gain employment she resorted to begging and had been sending the money home to her children.
Plans are being made for her children to travel to Ireland to formally identify their mother's remains. The remains will then be repatriated for a funeral in Timisoara, her homeland.
Mystery still surrounds her murder and suspects have yet to be identified. Ms Bratis was stabbed eight times when her body was found on August 5. Gardai believe theft was a possible motive.
Investigators have renewed appeals to the public for assistance in cracking the case. A reward for information leading to a conviction is being offered by Crimestoppers and around 40 gardai remain involved in the murder hunt.
"She was a person who was begging to support herself and her family. She had fallen on bad times. It was her only means of support and she was trying to help put her children through college," a senior officer said. "There has been a good response from the public so far, but we feel there are still people with information who have not come forward yet. She had to be eating, sleeping and shopping somewhere. We are looking for all that information."
In the months before her death, Ms Bratis had been seen begging in Dublin city centre, mainly on O'Connell Street and O'Connell Bridge. Gardai say she had not come to their attention prior to her murder.
Officers believe she had accommodation for some of her time in Ireland, but had mostly been sleeping rough.
The body was discovered in a wooded area off Military Road, between the Chapelizod and Islandbridge gates of the Phoenix Park. Gardai believe she most likely died where she was found.
They have asked anyone with information to contact Cabra Garda Station on (01) 6667400 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.
- Shane Phelan Investigative Correspondent
