Fresh appeal on 2004 murder

GARDAÍ LAST night made fresh appeals regarding the murder of the daughter of the chief justice of Malawi, whose decapitated remains were found in Co Kilkenny five years ago today.

The body of Paiche Unyolo Onyemaechi (25) was found wrapped in plastic bags near a stream under Brenor bridge, 4km (2.5 miles) north of Piltown, Co Kilkenny, on July 23rd, 2004. Her severed head has not been found.

Ms Unyolo Onyemaechi, the mother of two sons, had been missing for three weeks before the discovery.

The daughter of Malawi chief justice Leonard Unyolo, she had been living in rented accommodation in St Herblain Park near Waterford city centre. Her Nigerian husband, Chika Onyemaechi, then 31, went missing days after the discovery of the body.

In August 2004, Mr Unyolo met then minister for justice Michael McDowell to discuss his daughter’s murder.

Gardaí in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, yesterday made a fresh appeal for the public’s assistance on the murder.

Up to 40 detectives were involved in the investigation. The Garda Technical Bureau carried out an indepth examination of the house Ms Unyolo Onyemaechi had been renting, and many family and friends were interviewed. Up to 500 statements have been taken.

A Garda cold-case unit in Dublin is investigating the killing and a Garda source said Interpol has been involved. Insp Kevin Bohan of Clonmel Garda station said yesterday a “co-ordinated incident room” was set up in Clonmel regarding the inquiry.

Insp Bohan described Ms Unyolo Onyemaechi’s murder as “absolutely horrific”.

“The investigation is still ongoing . . . we are appealing for any witnesses regarding Paiche’s death to come forward,” he said.

“We are also appealing for Paiche’s husband, Chika, to come forward. And we are appealing for anyone else who may have information about his whereabouts; we are still concerned for his welfare.”

The couple’s children, Anthony and Andrew, were three years and 18-months-old at the time of their mother’s murder.

In April 2007, a man tried over withholding information regarding the murder was cleared.

Three men arrested in Dublin soon after Ms Unyolo Onyemaechi’s murder were released without charge.

Anyone with information can contact Clonmel gardaí on 052-6177640, any Garda station, or the Garda confidential line on 1800-666111.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times