Castlederg conwoman suspected dead in Limerick

The bodies, which were found in an upstairs bedroom of a rural farmhouse at Boolaglass – halfway between Rathkeale and Askeaton – are believed to be those of Castlederg conwoman Julia Holmes (63) and her partner, Thomas Ruttle, who was aged in his 50s.

The bodies, which investigating gardai have confirmed had been in the house for some time, were badly decomposed when they were found at around 3am on Monday.

A garda source said a firearm – possibly a shotgun – was found in the house and one line of inquiry being followed is that of murder-suicide.

The scene of the grim discovery has been examined by members of the garda technical bureau and State Pathologist, Prof Marie Cassidy, conducted post mortem examinations at University Hospital Limerick on Monday evening.

The farmhouse, which is located on the busy R518, is owned by Thomas Ruttle, who along with Ms Holmes has not been seen in the locality since the middle of March.

Ms Holmes – a conwoman with more than 20 convictions – is wanted by the PSNI and the FBI. She was deported from the United States in 2006 over a $500,000 property scam in Texas. At various points, she also went by the names Julianne Ruttle, Croen Ruttle, Julia Watson as well as several other aliases.

It is understood Ms Holmes, who has been on the run from the authorities in Northern Ireland since 2011 had been living in the house with Mr Ruttle for a number of months.

Meanwhile, residents in the townland of Boolaglass have been speaking of their shock at what happened.

“I’m just in total shock really that something like this can happen next door to you. I would have known the owner of the house just by name and to see him but not on a personal basis,” said Elma Barry, who lives near the farmhouse.