These are the first pictures of the woman who died on an Irish ferry on her way to her father-in-law’s funeral.
The death of Mary Cash, 39, sparked a huge police response but she is now believed to have died in a suspected suicide and not a violent death as previously thought.
She was discovered in a bathroom of the Stena Nordica ferry as it made its way into Rosslare Port in Wexford.
The discovery of Mary’s body sparked a mass brawl between a group of people on board, forcing the ship’s captain to issue an emergency call to authorities at Rosslare.
Mary, who has several children, was with her husband Ned and other relatives taking her father-in-law Martin Cash back to Ireland for a funeral service.
His body was in a hearse on board the ferry which left the West Wales port of Fishguard on Tuesday afternoon.
Martin, 75, died at his home in North London earlier this month and it was this wish to be buried in his native Ireland.
There was a service at St Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Edgeware, North London, on Monday before his body was taken back to his home.
These are the first pictures of Mary Cash, 39, who died on an Irish ferry on her way to her father-in-law’s funeral
Mary’s sparked a huge police response but she is now believed to have died in a suspected suicide and not a violent death as previously thought
Martin, 75, died at his home in North London earlier this month and it was this wish to be buried in his native Ireland
A notice posted by Ned Cash on Facebook said: ‘Anyone that is following him back to ireland are to be at his yard Tuesday 6.30am.’
Mary and her husband Ned, along with other relatives, left his home with the hearse at dawn on Tuesday to catch the 2pm ferry from Fishguard.
Irish police, the Gardaí Siochana, are still investigating Mary’s death but foul play has been ruled out.
A message on social media said: ‘Heart breaking poor Ned going to bury his father tomorrow now his beautiful wife.
‘Jesus heal broken hearted give her family strength true this heart breaking time.’
Police interviewed ferry passengers and a man known to Mary was arrested. He has since been released from Garda custody.
Martin Cash’s funeral was due to be held at Bluebell Catholic Chapel in Dublin on Wednesday before burial at St Corban’s Cemetery in Naas, County Kildare.
It’s understood the funeral was put back a day following Mary’s tragic death on the Irish ferry.
The family is now making arrangements for Mary’s funeral following a post mortem examination in Ireland.
In a statement, gardaí said: ‘A post mortem examination on the deceased woman has been completed, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.
The discovery of Mary’s body sparked a mass brawl between a group of people on board, forcing the ship’s captain to issue an emergency call to authorities at Rosslare
She was discovered in a bathroom of the Stena Nordica ferry as it made its way into Rosslare Port in Wexford
Mary, who has several children, was with her husband Ned (pictured) and other relatives taking her father-in-law Martin Cash back to Ireland for a funeral service
‘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 described the incident as ‘extremely shocking’ as armed gardaí and the public order unit were called to the scene.
The ‘public order incident’ described as a ‘brawl’ is understood to have broken out following discovery of the woman.
Garda said they are looking into ‘all of the circumstances’ around the death.
Garda said they are looking into ‘all of the circumstances’ around the death as they await the results of the post-mortem (file photo)
A witness described the Garda response as ‘massive’ as they were joined by a large National Ambulance Service presence to create a ‘ring of steel’ around the port.
Local councillor Ger Carthy, who attended the scene as part of his role as an ambulance officer with the National Ambulance Service, 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.
‘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.’
Mary was discovered in the bathroom of the Stena Nordica ferry as it made its way into Rosslare Port in Wexford
Multiple Armed Response Units as well as ambulances made their way to the port and boarded the vessel
Stena Line confirmed the incident occurred on the ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare (stock photo)
A transport company owner, who is a regular user of the port, said one of his drivers had witnessed the lead-up to the incident.
He said the driver believed those involved were going to a funeral, as there was a hearse on board.
‘He said he knew this fella was going to cause trouble, but he didn’t think it was going to be this serious,’ he recalled.
‘He said the man was shouting and had a lot of drink or drugs on him. He was out of his mind on something anyway.’
Gardaí spoke to passengers on board and as they left the boat from around 8pm onwards, taking statements from eyewitnesses.
The company owner, who asked not to be named, said he had a driver waiting to make the return journey, but who was now spending the night parked near the port.
He said his trucks had already been delayed after cancelled sailings on Sunday, due to high winds.
A spokesperson for Stena Line said: ‘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.’
