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Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Martha Nolan-O'Slattara's family 'left in shock by brain cancer claims'
The mother of an Irish woman who was found dead on a yacht in the United States has refuted claims her daughter had brain cancer, stating she was 'perfectly healthy.' 33-year-old Martha Nolan O'Slattara was found dead on a private yacht in the upmarket area of Montauk in the Hamptons, New York, earlier in the month. An initial examination into the death of the Carlow businesswoman has ruled out violence as a cause, with New York police bringing narcotics officers onto the case which appears to be a drug overdose. 33-year-old Martha Nolan O'Slattara was found dead on a private yacht in the upmarket area of Montauk in the Hamptons, new York, earlier in the month. Pic: Now, it has been claimed that the up and coming fashion designer could have been battling brain cancer, with her mother Elma asked by detectives about the disease. The Irish Independent report that Elma was in contact with her daughter on an almost daily basis and told detectives that her daughter was 'perfectly healthy.' As per initial examinations evidence of a violent death ahs been ruled out with Nolan O'Slattara's family since informed a final post-mortem report will take at least three months to complete. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra. Pic: Instagram This report would include toxicological, histological and other testing. Suffolk County's East End Drug Task Force are leading the investigation into the Irish woman's death. This task force includes several different law enforcement organisations including the Suffolk County sheriff's department. Earlier in the week, a police spokesperson told that the investigation was 'very much open and progressing.' Details of the funeral for Ms Nolan O'Slatarra will be announced this week. Her death notice reads: 'Martha Nolan of 36 Monacurragh, Carlow and The Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York, passed away unexpectedly, on August 5, 2025. Beloved daughter of Elma, much-loved sister of Jacqui, treasured granddaughter of Betty and Liam, cherished niece of John, Michelle, Barry and Mona and adored partner of Nick.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Family's heartbreaking autopsy plea after death of Irish designer on yacht as task force called in amid drug probe
THE heartbroken family of a young Irishwoman found dead on a luxury yacht in New York have issued a heartbreaking plea for a second autopsy. Martha Nolan-O'Slattara, 33, was found dead on a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club in the Hamptons on Long Island last Tuesday. 4 Martha Nolan-O'Slattara died at 33 on a luxury boat on August 5 Credit: Social Media Collect 4 Glam Martha co-founded a swimwear line and a fashion accessories brand Credit: Social Media Collect Her grief-stricken mother Elma, sister Jacqui and other family members have travelled over to the USA this week to bring the Carlow native's body home. The Suffolk County Police Department said Martha, a Manhattan-based entrepreneur, was found unconscious at the Montauk Yacht Club after a man called 911 at around midnight. Good Samaritans performed CPR, but Nolan was pronounced dead after first responders arrived at the scene. A preliminary investigation and exam of the scene last week was inconclusive. And detectives have said a post-mortem exam "did not show evidence of violence" and confirmed the final cause of death is "pending further examination". It has been reported that Martha's family have been told a final post-mortem report will take at least three months to complete. Martha's family is seeking a "second-opinion autopsy" before the body is embalmed and prepared for repatriation to Ireland. Criminal defence attorney Arthur Aidala confirmed yesterday he is representing Martha's family, saying the cause of her death remains inconclusive. Speaking to the media in New York, he said: "Her cause of death is inconclusive, and any report about her cause of death is just irresponsible. Secret legal battles of designer, 33, mysteriously found dead on luxury yacht as new timeline of last hours emerges "It's not accurate. It's speculation. "We are in touch with the district attorney's office, the family has had a sit-down with the Suffolk County homicide detectives and they are doing a deep, deep dive and deep investigation." Aidala said cops are still conducting technical analysis' and "people are still being questioned" in connection with the case. Suffolk County's East End Drug Task Force has joined the investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The task force is now analysing whether drugs might have played a role in the death. FAMILY'S PAIN Police are still waiting for toxicology results from the medical examiner, which could take several months to complete. The tests will determine whether there was any substance in her system that contributed to her death. The family are understood to be distressed at how they were informed of the tragedy. It is understood Martha's sister Jacqui, 19, was informed of the news by phone. The standard practice is for the family to be informed by gardai, who were informed through the US consulate. In her death notice, Martha's family described her as a "beloved daughter of Elma, much loved sister of Jacqui, treasured granddaughter of Betty and Liam, cherished niece of John, Michelle, Barry and Mona and adored partner of Nick." FASHION CAREER While Martha grew up in Carlow, she studied in UCD's Smurfit Business School and went on to work in finance and marketing. She moved to New York ten years ago, where she had been living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and had no plans to move home. She started as a bottle service girl in SoHo in downtown Manhattan before founding her own businesses. The designer co-founded East x East, a swimwear line, and fashion accessories brand Duper. She recently celebrated a major milestone when the brand, with the tagline "Built in the City x Made for the Sun", had its own pop-up shop in The Hamptons. 4 The Ripple boat was docked at Montauk Yacht Club in the Hamptons on the night Nolan died Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Extra.ie
Narcotics police take over inquiry into death of Martha Nolan O'Slattara
New York drug police have taken over the investigation into the death of a Carlow fashion designer. The focus has now shifted to finding who supplied the drugs that allegedly killed Martha Nolan O'Slatarra. The 33-year-old was found dead on a private yacht in the upmarket area of Montauk in the Hamptons, New York, earlier this month. An initial examination ruled out a violent death. New York police have now put narcotics officers on the case as it appears more and more likely that Ms Nolan O'Slatarra died of a drug overdose. New York drug police have taken over the investigation into the death of a Carlow fashion designer. Pic: TikTok The investigation is being led by Suffolk County's East End Drug Task Force, which comprises several different law enforcement organisations, including the Suffolk County sheriff's department, the district attorney's office and several police departments in the region. Toxicology results will not be available for several months, but police are 'very confident' she died from an overdose. Speaking to yesterday, a police spokesman said that investigations into Ms Nolan O'Slatarra's death are 'very much open and progressing'. They would not confirm if drugs or drug paraphernalia were discovered on board the yacht. Details of the funeral for Ms Nolan O'Slatarra will be announced this week. Her death notice reads: 'Martha Nolan of 36 Monacurragh, Carlow and The Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York, passed away unexpectedly, on August 5, 2025. Beloved daughter of Elma, much-loved sister of Jacqui, treasured granddaughter of Betty and Liam, cherished niece of John, Michelle, Barry and Mona and adored partner of Nick. Pic: 'She will be sadly missed by her loving mother and her mother's partner Patrick, sister, aunts, uncles, partner, her father Seamus and her siblings, her grandfather Jimmy Slattery, extended family, relatives and her large circle of friends in Ireland and the US.' Many Irish people left comments after the death notice was posted online, with one person writing: 'We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of Martha. To lose someone so young, so full of promise, is a pain beyond words. She had not yet been given the time to see her dreams unfold or to share all the light she carried within her. We pray that her memory will be a blessing to all who knew her. 'May God grant her family and friends strength during this difficult time, and may the love, kindness, and light she shared in her lifetime endure. May her soul find rest and peace in the arms of the angels.' An initial examination ruled out a violent death. Pic: Dylan Grace / Instagram Ms Nolan O'Slatarra was in the process of having her divorce from businessman Sam Ryan finalised at the time of her sudden death. Montauk is at the farthest end of Long Island, New York. Located in the upmarket Hamptons, the town has become the summer playground of the rich and famous. Many millionaire Wall Street brokers relocate there with their families to escape the blazing heat and humidity of New York's summer. Ms Nolan O'Slatarra was also appointed director of operations at K4 Capital Management, an investment management firm, in June last year. Pic: Martha Nolan/TikTok According to locals, the owner of the boat on which Ms Nolan O'Slatarra died has two vessels moored side by side at Montauk Yacht Club. also revealed earlier this month how the deceased had been accused of stealing from a business with which she had been working. In 2022, she was sued by the founder of Out East Accessories Inc., owned by Jeremy Valeda. The court filing states: 'Defendant Martha Nolan was a former employee of Out East, a company that specialises in the sale of its own branded sunglasses. '[Ms Nolan O'Slatarra] was terminated by Out East for cause in November 2021. In the weeks leading up to her termination and for months thereafter, Nolan ransacked Out East, stole all of its assets, and essentially destroyed the company.' The 33-year-old was found dead on a private yacht in the upmarket area of Montauk in the Hamptons, New York, earlier this month. Pic: SMG/Shutterstock In the filing, Ms Nolan O'Slatarra, along with another person, were accused of stealing the $34,000 remaining in Out East's bank account, stealing all of Out East's eyewear inventory and selling or gifting the eyewear 'without authorisation, to enrich themselves at a total loss to the company', according to Mr Valeda's lawsuit. It added: 'The two were also accused of deleting all of Out East's books and records, digital assets, and proprietary business and financial information from the company's cloud server; locked out company management from their Out East email accounts, preventing them from running the company and responding to messages from partners, customers, and others; locked out company management from Out East social media platforms, ultimately destroying Out East's social media presence; and changed the bank accounts linked to brick-and-mortar stores, online platforms, and vendor accounts from company bank accounts to bank accounts controlled by [the other party] and/or Nolan.' The case was settled a few months after it was filed. Just weeks ago, Ms Nolan O'Slatarra celebrated the grand opening of her brand's pop-up shop in Montauk. 'Goals achieved,' she wrote on a video shared of the shack housing her bikinis and beachwear shared on TikTok on July 1. Ms Nolan O'Slatarra was also appointed director of operations at K4 Capital Management, an investment management firm, in June last year
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
US drugs task force probes Irish fashion designer's death on New York boat, reports
According to the reports, investigators have not ruled out homicide or death due to natural causes A US drugs task force is investigating the death of Irish swimsuit designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra on a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Cub, it has been reported. The Suffolk County's interagency East End Drug Task Force is investigating whether drugs may have played a role in the death of the 33year-old, according to local media. The Long Island-based news outlet, Newsday, has reported that the investigation, 'which draws the first public link between drugs and Nolan-O'Slatarra's death' is moving forward on 'dual tracks'. However, the outlet also states that, according to one source, investigators have not ruled out homicide or death due to natural causes. "Until you start ruling stuff out, everything is in play," a law enforcement source told the outlet. The Suffolk County District Attorney's East End Drug Task Force involves various law enforcement agencies inclining DA Investigators, the East Hampton Town Police Department, the Suffolk County Police Department and New York State Police. 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. Suffolk police said yesterday that there was no update to the investigation and that the cause of death is still 'pending'. Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Ripple where her body was found is owned by Christopher P Durnan (60) of Long Beach described as 'widower with two young adult children'. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra The dad-of-two is believed to split his time between a five-bed, $6million mansion in Long Beach, New York, and an equally plush residence in Lantana, near Palm Beach, Florida. Durnan, referred to a 'familiar figure at the club', also owns the Durnan Group in Rockville Centre, which manages the 'largest, most successful Workers Compensation Safety Group for Real Estate' on the company's website. Sources have told other media outlets that Nolan-O'Slatarra headed to the Montauk Yacht Club on the evening of August 4 for a business meeting with Durnan. Described as a 'guitar-playing widower linked to several boats named after Grateful Dead songs' reportedly invested more than $200,000 in her bikini boutique. According to the Daily Mail, his wife Marie, a 'dedicated mom and adored aunt to 23 nieces and nephews' in an obituary notice, died unexpectedly at age 49. The cause of her death was not disclosed. One 'good Samaritan' told The Post they were woken by a man running down the dock screaming, 'Do something!' Eye witnesses who went to her aid dialled 911 as they tried to revive her. But she was declared dead at the scene on August 5. Nolan-O'Slatarra who was originally from Carlow, had finalised her uncontested divorce from her husband, Sam Ryan, in April. New York State court records show the couple were married in Utah in 2020. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra founded her own fashion brand East x East Martha's current boyfriend, who the Daily Mail identified as 34-year-old sales exec Nicholas DiRubio, was out of town when the tragedy unfolded. The Irish Independent understands she had spoken to her boyfriend in the hours before she died, telling him she was going to book an Uber and would be home around 1am. Her remains are currently in the custody of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office as her family await news on when they will be released for repatriation home to Ireland. The businesswoman 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. In her death notice, Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra's family described her as a 'beloved daughter of Elma, much-loved sister of Jacqui, treasured granddaughter of Betty and Liam, cherished niece of John, Michelle, Barry and Mona and adored partner of Nick.' "She will be sadly missed by her loving mother and her mother's partner Patrick, sister, aunts, uncles, partner, her father Seamus, grandparents, extended family, relatives and her large circle of friends in Ireland and the US,' her death notice said. 'May Martha's gentle soul rest in peace.' The family confirmed that the funeral arrangements for Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra will be published later in the week. Speaking to the Sunday World on Wednesday, her mother, Elma, expressed her anguish over her daughter's death. 'I feel numb and in shock,' she said. 'My younger daughter, Jacqui, arrived in on Tuesday night and she was crying and shaking,' she said. "She said, 'I have terrible news, Martha's dead',' she added.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
Long Island drug dealer and girlfriend subjected puppies to horrific conditions as he peddled fentanyl: DA
A drug dealer and his girlfriend kept four puppies in stomach-turning conditions as he allegedly peddled loads of fentanyl from his Long Island home, prosecutors said Tuesday. Troy Daniels, 44, was nabbed after selling more than two ounces of fentanyl – enough to kill 28,000 people – to an undercover investigator between May and July, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. The DA's East End Drug Task Force ultimately raided the alleged dealer's Middle Island drug den on July 18 — and discovered the poor American Bully pups holed up in a feces-filled crate. Advertisement Three of the dogs were shoved in one crate without food or water as they laid in their own feces and urine, while the fourth sickly puppy was suffering from severely infected and inflamed ears, prosecutors said. A photo of the three dogs kept in the crate. Suffolk County District Attorney's Office All the dogs were pulled from the home and taken to a veterinarian for treatment. Advertisement Officers recovered more than a half-ounce of fentanyl, a half-ounce of fentanyl mixed with heroin and more than an eighth-ounce of fentanyl meshed with cocaine inside the apartment, according to prosecutors. Other drug paraphernalia and a shotgun were also seized from the apartment, the DA's office said. Prosecutors said Daniels had met with the undercover agents on several occasions outside in the parking lot of his apartment complex. Daniels and his 31-year-old girlfriend, Toni Gerwycki, were both indicted on a count each of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals and three counts each of failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded dogs earlier this month, prosecutors said. Advertisement Daniels is also facing a flood of felony drug charges, including four counts of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, 13 counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and a count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. 'Each illicit transaction of fentanyl has lethal potential,' District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. Suffolk DA Raymond Tierney decried the drug accusations. James Messerschmidt 'Dealers must face consequences commensurate with the threat that their actions pose to our community.' Advertisement Gerwycki's lawyer, Ian Fitzgerald, told The Post his client was not responsible for the dogs, and insisted the puppies were all well taken care of, claiming they were only placed in the cage when law enforcement entered the home. He said his client disputed that she and Daniels were a couple, and claimed she just happened to be in the apartment when cops burst in. 'They weren't her dogs, she doesn't live in that house, they weren't her animals to care for, she never abused any animals, she never neglected any animals, she was going to purchase one of the puppies who had ample food and ample water and weren't being starved or not giving any water,' Fitzgerald said. The charges against Gerwycki aren't eligible for bail and she was cut loose pending trial. She faces a maximum year sentence if convicted on top count. Daniels was being held behind bars on $500,000 cash bail. He faces up to 20 years if convicted of the top count. His lawyer, John LoTurco, said Daniels deserves the presumption of innocence. 'We appreciate the serious allegations contained within the indictment,' he said in a statement. 'Accordingly, our law firm will carefully scrutinize the evidence to evaluate our next steps in defending our client.'
