The body of Mary Cash, 39, was found inside one of the bathrooms on board the Stena Nordica ferry as it approached Rosslare Port in Wexford, Ireland, on Tuesday
There’s been a major update in the tragic case of a woman who died on a ferry before the discovery of her body sparked a violent onboard brawl.
The body of Mary Cash, 39, was found inside the bathroom of the Stena Nordica ferry as it approached Rosslare Port in Wexford. A row broke out between a group of people following the discovery on Tuesday which forced the ship’s captain to alert authorities at the port.
Several armed response units and ambulances arrived to meet the ship as it entered the port. Passengers were interviewed and a man known to Mary was arrested, though he has since been released from custody. There had been initial concerns that she had been the victim of an assault and died as a result of her injuries.
But a post mortem investigation has found her death was a suspected suicide, according to MailOnline. Mary, believed to be Irish and living in the UK, had been on the ferry from Fishguard, Wales, to Wexford.
She and members of her family had been travelling to a funeral in Kildare before her death. Gardai (Irish police) have yet to establish a sequence of events that led up to the discovery of her body and row on the ferry.
“A post mortem examination on the deceased woman has been completed, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons,” gardai said in a statement. “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.
“As previously highlighted, An Garda Síochána is not investigating any other separate alleged Public Order Incidents on board this ferry sailing.” One witness said it was “extremely shocking” to see armed gardai being called to the ferry.
Gardai said they are investigating “all of the circumstances” around her death. Local Wexford councillor Ger Carthy, who attended the scene as an ambulance office 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 Garda investigation at this stage, the outcome of which we’ll learn in the fulness of time,” he continued, according to MailOnline. “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.”
A spokesperson for Stena Line told the outlet: “An incident occurred this afternoon on the 14:00 sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare. This a police matter, so please direct all further questions to the gardaí. The 19.30 sailing from Rosslare and 01.30am sailing from Fishguard are cancelled as a result.”
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
