Family of Irish woman found dead on yacht ‘stunned' by claims she was battling brain cancer
Martha Nolan-O'Slattara was found dead on a boat in East Hampton last week
Claims that an Irish woman found dead on a yacht in the US had been battling brain cancer are being investigated by detectives probing her death.
The body of Carlow businesswoman Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra (33) was found at Montauk Yacht Club in East Hampton on Long Island, New York, at 12am local time on Tuesday of last week.
During a telephone call in the days that followed, it is understood that Ms Nolan's mother Elma was asked by detectives about claims that her daughter had brain cancer.
It is not known who provided that information to the authorities.
Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra's mother, who was in contact with her daughter on an almost daily basis, was stunned by the claims and told detectives her daughter was 'perfectly healthy'.
'She told them there was nothing of the sort [affecting her],' a source said.
The Montauk Yacht Club in The Hamptons
Detectives in the US have said a post-mortem examination 'did not show evidence of violence, and her final cause of death is pending further examination'.
A 'preliminary investigation and exam', after they arrived at the scene, were inconclusive in informing a cause of death.
Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra's family have been told that a final post-mortem report, including toxicological, histological and other testing, will take at least three months to complete.
Her mother, sister Jacqui and several other relatives have travelled to the US to bring her body home.
Martha Nolan-O'Slattara was found dead on a boat in East Hampton last week
News in 90 Seconds - August 15th
The family have engaged a top lawyer in the US and are seeking a 'second-opinion autopsy' as the mystery over the circumstances surrounding her death deepens.
Criminal defence attorney Arthur Aidala's client list includes Harvey Weinstein and former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.
Mr Aidala has said he is in contact with the district attorney's office, and the family had met with Suffolk County homicide detectives.
'There is still a very intense investigation focused on why a young woman is dead,' he said.
'The autopsy report did show that there was no signs of a struggle, no defensive wounds on her hands, no obvious signs of trauma.
'The medical examiner is really focusing now on her blood and the other fluids that are being sent to toxicology to see what's going on.
'There were rumours that she possibly had some form of brain cancer and that is being investigated as well.'
Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra was found unconscious at the Montauk Yacht Club after a man called 911 at around midnight, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra had spoken to her boyfriend in the hours before she died, telling him she was going to book an Uber and would be home at around 1am.
Public records indicate that the boat, named Ripple, is owned by Christopher P Durnan, an American business man who owns a successful insurance company. Efforts by the Irish Independent to contact Mr Durnan have been unsuccessful.
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