Latest news with #Durnan
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Owner of yacht where Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra died was sued for allegedly biting firefighter
Former firefighter Michael Balfe was a Ground Zero first responder on 9/11. The owner of the boat where Carlow bikini designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra died was previously sued for allegedly biting a retired New York firefighter at a tribute concert on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 in Manhattan. Businessman Christopher Durnan (60), who reportedly invested more than $200,000 in Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra East x East bikini boutique, owned the yacht where the 33-year-old Irishwoman was found in the upmarket area of Montauk in the Hamptons, New York, on Tuesday last week. Former firefighter Michael Balfe, who was a Ground Zero first responder, claimed in a civil suit that Durnan attacked him during a tribute concert at Webster Hall in Manhattan's East Village on September 11, 2021. It was alleged in the civil suit that Durnan 'bit and assaulted' the firefighter in a unprovoked attack, the New York Post reported. The suit, which was later settled, went on to allege that Mr Balfe 'sustained serious and permanent injuries, suffered, does suffer and will continue to suffer agony to body and mind'. Christopher Durnan, 60 News in 90 Seconds - August 16th Durnan had denied that the attack was unprovoked and claimed Mr Balfe started the fight and his 'use of force reasonable under the circumstances' according to court documents. Durnan was initially charged with assault with intent to cause physical injury, possession of a controlled substance, attempted assault in the third degree, and harassment, according to court records. He later pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct. The civil suit was settled in December 2023. A lawyer for Mr Balfe told the New York Post: 'Out of respect for the family of the woman who tragically passed away and Mr. Balfe's own family, Michael will not be making a comment on the prior case involving Christoher Durnan.' Durnan, who founded an insurance company, was described as 'guitar playing widower' in media reports. Christopher, who founded a major insurance company, owns two boats- Ripple, where she was found, and another called Hell in a Bucket, both inspired by the Grateful Dead. It has previously reported that Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra headed to the Montauk Yacht Club on the evening of August 4 for a business meeting with Durnan. She was found dead on the boat while docked at the yacht club on August 5. Suffolk police said last week that an autopsy conducted on the body who was found dead on the 32-foot pleasure boat Ripple on August 5 showed no evidence of violence. They said confirmation of the cause of death was still pending. Martha Local media reported this week that the Suffolk County's interagency East End Drug Task Force is investigating whether drugs may have played a role in the death. Police have also not ruled out homicide or death due to natural causes and have yet to release a toxicology report, Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra who was originally from Carlow, moved to New York from Ireland around 10 years ago and launched a series of pop-up boutiques in the Hamptons featuring her line of swimwear and sunglasses. She married Sam Ryan in Utah in 2020 but the couple's uncontested divorces was finalised in April. She was in a relationship with sales executive Nicholas DiRubio at the time of her death and the pair spent Christmas in Ireland with her family. She was spending the summer in Montauk with Mr DiRubio but he was reportedly out of town when the tragedy unfolded. It is understood she spoke to her boyfriend hours before her death and said she was going to book an Uber and would be him around 1am. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra family have travelled to US to bring her body home. They have hired a lawyer and are seeking a 'second-opinion autopsy'. The Irish Independent reported this week 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.
International Business Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra Cause of Death: What Happened to Irish Bikini Designer?
The mystery surrounding the unexpected death of Irish bikini designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra has deepened as new details have emerged about Christopher Durnan, the owner of the Montauk-docked boat named Ripple, where the designer died. Durnan, 60, an insurance mogul, was previously involved in a lawsuit after a concert incident in Manhattan on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Michael Balfe, a retired FDNY firefighter, claimed Durnan attacked him during a program at Webster Hall on September 11, 2021. According to a civil suit filed the next year, Durnan was sued for biting Balfe. In his lawsuit, Balfe claimed that the guitar-playing widower bit and assaulted him in an unprovoked attack. The retired FDNY firefighter stated that he "sustained serious and permanent injuries, suffered, does suffer and will continue to suffer agony to body and mind". Though Durnan was charged with assault for recklessly causing physical injury, attempted assault in the third degree, possession of a controlled substance, harassment, and intent to cause physical injury, he denied all the allegations against him. The court papers stated that the insurance mogul argued that Balfe initiated the fight. He said that the use of force by the retired FDNY firefighter was reasonable under the circumstances. Martha Nolan Instagram The civil suit was settled in December 2023, despite Durnan pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. Balfe's lawyer, Darren Moore, said his party did not pay any party during the time of the settlement. He also stated that his client does not wish to make any comments on the civil suit, out of respect for Martha Nolan-O'Slaterra's family. "Out of respect for the family of the woman who tragically passed away and Mr. Balfe's own family, Michael will not be making a comment on the prior case involving Christopher Durnan", the lawyer told The New York Post. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra's Cause of Death The Irish bikini designer died Tuesday (August 5) while she was on board a yacht owned by the insurance tycoon. She headed to the luxury Montauk Yacht Club for a meeting with the American businessman on Monday (August 4). Durnan screamed for help from the dock after the self-made entrepreneur passed out. Although bystanders dialed 911 and performed CPR on the designer, she was declared dead on the scene by the first responders. Martha Nolan X The family members of Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra have demanded a second post-mortem and requested more details. Her family said they are not convinced by the speculations that she died due to a drug overdose. The family's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said her family did not know her to be someone who used drugs. "They want more details. The circumstances surrounding this are far from typical. They would like to know anyone who was with Martha that evening. Earlier that evening, at the time of the actual incident, we know one person who was there. Was anyone else around? The family has had a sit-down with the Suffolk County homicide detectives. They are doing a deep, deep dive, a deep investigation. People are still being questioned. If there was any kind of drug or drug use, they want to know. Who's doing the drugs?", the lawyer said. Meanwhile, sources said Durnan, who owns more than two boats named after Grateful Dead songs, apparently invested over $200,000 in the boutique owned by the Irish bikini designer. According to local sources, both Ripple and Hell In a Bucket, another boat owned by Durnan, were sailed away by a crew last weekend. Suffolk County police are currently investigating the case and have not identified any suspects or filed charges against anyone in Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra's death.
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Owner of boat where Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra died once sued for allegedly biting FDNY firefighter on 20th anniversary of 9/11
The owner of the Montauk-docked boat where designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra died was once sued for allegedly biting a retired FDNY firefighter on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 at a Manhattan concert. Former smoke-eater Michael Balfe, a Ground Zero first responder, claimed he was attacked by Christopher Durnan, 60, during a show at Webster Hall on Sept. 11, 2021, according to a civil suit he filed the following year. The lawsuit alleges Durnan 'bit and assaulted' Balfe in an unprovoked attack. Balfe 'sustained serious and permanent injuries, suffered, does suffer and will continue to suffer agony to body and mind,' the since-settled suit alleged. 3 Christopher Durnan, 60, the last person to see Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra alive was once sued for biting a 9/11 FDNY first responder in an unprovoked attack at Webster Hall. Obtained by the NY Post Durnan had rejected any wrongdoing, arguing Balfe initiated the fight and that his 'use of force was reasonable under the circumstances' according to court papers. Durnan was criminally charged after the incident with assault with intent to cause physical injury, recklessly cause physical injury, possession of a controlled substance, attempted assault in the third degree, and harassment, according to court records. He ultimately pled guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. The civil suit was settled in December 2023, records show. 3 Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, died on Aug. 5 onboard boat The Ripple which is owned by Chris Durnan and docked at the Montauk Yacht Club on Aug. 5. Facebook / Martha Nolan 'Out of respect for the family of the woman who tragically passed away and Mr. Balfe's own family, Michael will not be making a comment on the prior case involving Christoher Durnan,' the former firefighter's lawyer, Darren Moore, told The Post. Moore emphasized that his client didn't pay any party when the lawsuit was settled. Durnan, an insurance mogul with a plush pad in Montauk and another home in Long Beach, owns the boat The Ripple, where Nolan-O'Slatarra was found dead on Aug. 5, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. A lawyer for Nolan-O'Slatarra's family revealed that homicide detectives are 'questioning' individuals in relation to the tragic death of the chic East End entrepreneur. 'They want more details,' Aidala told The Post. 'The circumstances surrounding this are far from typical.' 3 Records show Durnan owns both The Ripple and the boat next to it named Hell In A Bucket. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post 'They would like to know anyone who was with Martha that evening,' Aidala continued. 'Earlier that evening, at the time of the actual incident, we know one person who was there. Was anyone else around?' Durnan could not be reached for comment.
International Business Times
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Martha Nolan Cause of Death: NYC Designer Met Insurance Moghul Christopher Durnan Before She Was Found Dead on Boat in Montauk Yacht Club
The circumstances under which New York City swimwear designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra died in the Hamptons last week and the cause of her death has been revealed. Nolan-O'Slatarra possibly died of drug overdose, according to The Daily Mail. Police have launched an investigation and have not found anything suspicious in the designer's death. The 33-year-old traveled to the upscale Montauk Yacht Club on the evening of August 4 to meet with insurance executive Christopher Durnan, 60, according to sources, who spoke to the outlet. Durnan — a widower and guitarist linked with several boats named after Grateful Dead songs—is believed to have invested over $200,000 in the Irish designer's swimwear business. Shocking Things Before Death Martha Nolan Instagram The meeting took a tragic turn when, around midnight, Durnan ran down the dock naked, screaming for help and saying that Martha had lost consciousness. Witnesses called 911 and boarded a boat named Ripple in an attempt to revive the blonde, blue-eyed designer. However, she was pronounced dead at the scene on August 5, with sources telling the Daily Mail that Martha likely died from a suspected drug overdose involving cocaine or other narcotics. Martha Nolan TikTok Photos taken the following morning showed a light scattering of a dusting of a mysterious white powder on a seat aboard the 50-foot cabin cruiser, which bore the Grateful Dead's "Steal Your Face" logo — a skull with a lightning bolt — on its stern. The outlet also identified Martha's boyfriend as 34-year-old sales executive Nicholas DiRubio, who was reportedly out of town when the incident occurred. Police said that no signs of violence or physical harm were found on Nolan-O'Slatarra's body but are waiting for toxicology results before they release a formal cause of death. Martha Nolan X Her family has been told the process could take up to three months, according to Irish media reports. Durnan founded the Durnan Group in 1981 specializing in workers' compensation insurance. A Lot Still in Mystery As of Monday, the Ripple was no longer docked at the Montauk Yacht Club, a 16-acre Star Island resort offering slips for 200 boats along with upscale amenities such as a tennis court and two swimming pools. Martha Nolan X Local sources said a crew arrived at dawn last Friday to sail the yacht away. Another boat believed to be owned by Durnan — a five-engine powerboat called Hell In a Bucket, also referencing the Grateful Dead — reportedly left the club the previous night, the source added. The father of two is believed to divide his time between a five-bedroom, $6 million mansion in Long Beach, New York, and an equally luxurious home in Lantana, near Palm Beach, Florida. Durnan suffered a heartbreaking personal tragedy in 2018 when his wife, Marie, died unexpectedly at the age of 49. Her obituary described her as a devoted wife, loving mother, and "adored aunt to 23 nieces and nephews." The cause of death was not made public. Martha, a self-made entrepreneur, was raised in Carlow, a picturesque village in southeast Ireland surrounded by rolling green countryside. Martha Nolan X She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the prestigious University College Dublin and later obtained a master's degree in digital marketing from the Smurfit Graduate School of Business. At just 26, she became vice president of client experiences at an Ireland-based retail marketing firm — but admitted to the outlet that she felt unfulfilled in her career. In 2021, she went on to launch the swimwear brand East x East along with a fashion accessories label, Duper.
