Appeal over Irish nun sex murder

DUBLIN, Ireland -- A vicious sex attacker who strangled a nun in the grounds of her convent could strike again, police in Ireland are warning.

Detective Superintendent Tom Long, leading the hunt for the killer of 68-year-old Sister Philomena Lyons, said the chance that he may strike again was of "great concern" to him.

He told the UK Press Association: "This was a vicious, brutal attack on one of the most defenceless people in society. This instills great fear in a small community such as that in Ballybay."

The killer struck as Sister Philomena waited at a bus stop next to the convent in Ballybay, Co Monaghan, on her way to celebrate the 100th birthday of a friend in Dublin, on Saturday morning.

She was dragged into the grounds, sexually assaulted and choked to death. The nun, a former teacher, would have celebrated her own 69th birthday on December 23.

As forensic officers continued to examine the scene on Monday, Long told PA: "She was accompanied to the bus stop from the main entrance of the convent but unfortunately did not make that bus."

He described the killer as "an opportunist." The attacker had a time window of between 15 to 30 minutes to commit his crime, he said.

"The nun was seen between 8.10 am and 8.20 am. The other nuns found her luggage on the wall at 10.30 am. We were contacted on that afternoon and later we found the body at the rear of the convent grounds."

Forensic experts were also searching for clues at a house about half a mile away from the murder scene where an attempted break-in had been reported on Saturday.

A nearby telephone box had also been sealed off for tests after a man was seen acting suspiciously there, around the time of the attack.

As police carried out door-to-door inquiries, Long urged locals to help police track down the killer.

Sister Philomena, a member of the order of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, had worked as a teacher in Ballybay for more than 30 years and was a popular figure with locals.

Locals spoke of their shock at the horrific murder as they visited St Joseph's nursing home, which is attached to the convent, to pay their respects.

One woman, leaving flowers at the gates, said: "She was just a wonderful woman who wanted to spend her life helping people. It is a sad world when such a lovely person can be taken from us in this way."