Gardaí expect an autopsy on a woman found dead on a ferry will determine if serious injuries to her neck were inflicted by an attacker or were the result of a personal tragedy.
The woman, aged 39, was discovered in a toilet of a Stena Line ferry and had clear and significant marks on her neck.
A man, aged 40, who is known to the woman, was arrested and questioned in connection with the death.
It is understood that staff found a man in the toilet over the woman’s body, sparking initial concerns that her death was the result of an assault.
Gardaí received conflicting reports as to what might have happened, including claims that the man discovered the woman and was trying to assist her.
It is thought that some items may have been removed from the bathroom for forensic and DNA tests.
Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm the cause of the injuries sustained by the woman. This will then determine if the investigation takes the form of a file for the coroner or if a criminal investigation will be launched.
Forensic examinations will assist gardaí.
The man and the woman were among a group of people traveling from Fishguard in Wales to Rosslare, Co. Wexford, for a funeral.
The woman is Irish and was living in England.
Eyewitnesses have told gardaí that there was some sort of row in a public area involving people in the group before the incident.
But gardaí stress that it is not clear if this row, described as being relatively minor, is linked in any way to the death.
Investigators are gathering background information to assist their investigation.
It is believed that staff reported the discovery of the woman’s body to the captain, who made a distress call some distance away from Rosslare in Irish-controlled waters.
A large team of gardaí, including the Armed Support Unit and Public Order Unit, descended on the port.
A statement issued by Garda HQ before lunchtime today 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.”
It added: “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.”
A Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation, and a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been assigned to provide support and information to the deceased’s family.
The statement said that gardaí are not investigating any separate alleged public order incidents on board this ferry sailing.
