Investigation Underway After Woman Found Dead on Wexford Ferry

Ireland :Authorities in Wexford are investigating the death of a woman discovered in a restroom aboard the Stena Nordica ferry on Tuesday evening. The incident, which led to a violent altercation among passengers, prompted a significant Garda response at Rosslare Europort.

Incident Overview

The deceased was found as the ferry arrived at Rosslare Europort at approximately 5:30 PM, having traveled from Fishguard, Wales. Emergency services and Gardaí were alerted to the situation shortly after 5:00 PM and boarded the vessel upon docking. The ferry remained in the harbor overnight while authorities secured the scene for investigation.

A man, reportedly found in the same restroom where the woman was discovered, was immediately arrested in connection with the case. He is currently being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at an Eastern Region Garda station. Sources indicate that tensions escalated among passengers following the discovery, resulting in a physical altercation onboard.

Law Enforcement Response

Due to the seriousness of the situation, the ferry's captain issued an SOS, leading to a rapid response from armed Gardaí and the public order unit. Witnesses described a heavy Garda presence at the port, which was placed under lockdown as the investigation commenced. Personnel from the National Ambulance Service were also deployed to assist at the scene.

A Garda spokesperson confirmed that a crime scene had been established on board the vessel, stating, "While Gardaí conduct inquiries, there are no public safety concerns at this time." As part of the investigation, passengers and crew members are being interviewed to establish the sequence of events leading to the incident.

Ongoing Investigation

The scene remains preserved for forensic and technical examination. The Office of the State Pathologist and the local Coroner have been notified, and a postmortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death. The results of the examination will guide the direction of the investigation.

A Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to oversee the case, and a Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to provide support to the deceased's relatives.

Impact on Ferry Operations

As a result of the incident, Stena Line confirmed the cancellation of two scheduled sailings. A company spokesperson stated, "Stena Line can confirm that an incident occurred this afternoon on the 14:00 sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare. We are cooperating fully with the authorities as their investigation continues."

Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward as they work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.