Cork in mourning for Bruna
A vigil in memory of a Brazilian woman found dead in Cork city on New Year’s Day will be held this weekend.
Leeside was plunged into shock on Sunday morning when the body of Bruna Fonseca, 28, was found in an apartment on Liberty Street after gardaí were called to the scene.
This Sunday, a vigil organised by Cork’s Brazilian community will take place at the Lough at 10am. Those attending are encouraged to wear white and to bring a candle and white roses in remembrance of Ms Fonseca.
Though gardaí have not disclosed the post mortem findings, it is understood that Ms Fonseca’s death was violent in nature.
Since the tragedy, messages of support and condolence have flooded in on social media.
Women’s Aid Ireland posted: “It’s with a heavy heart that we add Bruna Fonseca, aged 28, to our record of women who have been killed in violent circumstances in this country. Rest in peace, Bruna.”
Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran also expressed his sadness: “Like many others, I share in the shock and sorrow at Bruna Fonseca's terrible death on New Year's Day.”
Women’s domestic violence support group OSS tweeted: “We are devastated at the loss of Bruna Fonseca. Another woman murdered by an ex-partner. What should have been a new start in life has been brutally cut short. Ending an abusive relationship can have devastating consequences for women.”
Following news of Ms Fonseca’s death, family members and friends pulled together and started a GoFundMe page with the aim to repatriate her remains to Brazil. The page’s initial target of €30,000 was reached in hours and yesterday, Wednesday, sat at just under €50,000 raised in less than 24 hours.
A man in his 20s has been arrested by gardaí and appeared before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Monday, charged with the murder of Ms Fonseca.The man, also a Brazilian national and understood to be known to Ms Fonseca, was arrested shortly after her body was found.
The investigation is being led by a senior investigating officer and a garda family liaison officer has been appointed to liaise with the family of the deceased. Divisional officers are continuing to examine the crime scene which remains sealed off.