Waterford man (45) charged with murder of Irish woman (30) in Melbourne, Australia

A Waterford man has been arrested by Australian police in relation to the death of a 30-year-old Irish woman in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. 

Patrick Stokes, with a former address of Ballybeg, Waterford, has been charged with the murder of Annmarie O'Reilly, originally from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. 

Victoria Police confirmed to Waterford News & Star that a man had been arrested near the crime scene at Ferntree Gully Road just before 10 am local time on Friday, August 21. 

In a statement, Victoria Police confirmed: "The man has since been charged with one count of murder.

"He appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this evening via audio visual link where he was remanded in custody to appear on 23 February 2027.

"It is alleged the parties were known to each other."

Ms. O'Reilly was a mother to three children and had family ties to Kilkenny and Tipperary. Family members have shared tributes to her on social media, including her brother Jimmy who wrote: “Rest in peace to my beautiful sister Annmarie, the nicest woman you’d meet, the best mother to her kids. May you get the best bed in heaven ... love you so much.”