The woman, named locally as Mary Cash, 39, was travelling with a group of family and friends to a funeral in County Kildare – when she was found dead in the ferry’s toilets on Tuesday afternoon
Police are continuing to probe the “extremely shocking” death of a woman aboard a ferry in Wexford, which sparked huge brawl in the aftermath of the discovery.
The deceased female, named locally as Mary Cash, was reportedly found inside the ferry’s toilets on Tuesday afternoon. The 39-year-old had been travelling with a group of family and friends on the Stena Nordica Stena Line ferry, and was on her way to a funeral in County Kildare when she was found dead in one of the cabin’s bathrooms.
A spokesperson for Stena Line, which was operating the ferry on its journey from Wales to Ireland, said: “An incident occurred this afternoon on the 2pm sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare. This is a police matter, so please direct all further questions to the gardai. The 7.30pm sailing from Rosslare and 1.30am sailing from Fishguard are cancelled as a result.”
A Gardaí spokesperson said: “Gardaí in Wexford continue to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman on board a passenger ferry en route to Rosslare, Co. Wexford on the evening of Tuesday, 25th February 2025. A post mortem examination is currently being carried out at Waterford University Hospital, the results of which will determine the nature and course of our investigation.” Here is everything we know so far as officers continue to investigate the “unexplained death”.
Woman named locally as Mary Cash
The woman who was found dead aboard the ferry was named locally as 39-year-old Mary Cash. Ms Cash is believed to be Irish but had been living in the UK and was travelling with friends and family on the Stena Nordica Stena Line ferry when the tragedy occurred.
While she has not been formally named by gardai, several sources have identified her to the Irish Mirror. Officers said a post mortem examination is currently being carried out at Waterford University Hospital, the results of which will determine the nature and course of their investigation.
Man arrested then released by police
Gardaí released a man without charge after he was arrested in connection with the woman’s death. It follows reports that a man was found inside the toilets with the woman, where he was taken away by police for questioning. According to the Irish Independent, the man, 40, and woman both lived in the UK and are known to each other.
Gardaí said in an initial statement: “A man arrested in connection with the investigation, remains currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region.”
The force then said in update that the man had been released. A spokesperson said: “The male arrested in connection with the investigation has been released from detention without charge. A Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) continues to engage with and support the family of the deceased.”
Major brawl broke out after body found
Following the discovery of the woman’s body, a fight is understood to have erupted in the ship’s bar area while the vessel was around 35 miles off the coast of Wexford, reports the Irish Mirror. The ship’s captain radioed an emergency distress call at around 5pm, with a huge number of gardai, including officers from the Armed Support Unit as well as the Public Order Unit, boarding the vessel once it had docked.
A witness said the Gardaí turnout was “massive” and that the port was placed under lockdown. They added that there was a large National Ambulance Service presence at the scene, joining forces with gardai to form a “ring of steel” around the port. One witness described the scene as “extremely shocking”.
‘Shock and sadness’ in village
Local councillor Ger Carthy attended the scene as part of his role as an ambulance officer with the National Ambulance Service – and said there was an air of shock and sadness throughout the village.
He said: “There’s an air of shock and sadness here in Rosslare tonight over what unfolded onboard the Stena Nordica. The specifics are subject to a gardai investigation at this stage, the outcome of which we’ll learn in the fullness of time. Regardless, at the centre of it is a woman who has lost her life and the thoughts of the community here are with her family.”
Ongoing investigation
The latest Gardaí statement said the force are continuing to investigate “all of the circumstances” surrounding the woman’s death.
It added: “A post mortem examination on the deceased woman has been completed, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons. The male arrested in connection with the investigation has been released from detention without charge. A Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) continues to engage with and support the family of the deceased.”
“A Garda Senior Investigating Officer, will now supervise the completion of an investigation for the purpose of a file to assist a Coroner’s Inquest.”
In a statement, Stena Line said: “We can confirm that An Garda Síochána is investigating an incident that occurred on the 14:00 ferry crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare on Tuesday February 25.
“In order to assist with the Garda investigation, last night’s 19:30 and 01:30 Stena Nordica sailings were cancelled. Today’s 08:30 sailing from Rosslare and return from Fishguard at 14:00 have also been cancelled. At this time, Stena Nordica’s next expected departure will be at 19:30 from Rosslare.”