Crime

Woman found dead on Fishguard ferry as brawl erupts onboard

Published

10 months ago

February 26, 2025

A WOMAN has been found dead in the toilets of a Stena Line ferry sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare, sparking a violent brawl and a major emergency response at Rosslare Harbour on Tuesday (Feb 25).

Gardaí have launched an investigation into “all the circumstances” surrounding the death, which occurred aboard the 2:00pm sailing of the Stena Nordica. Officers were called to the vessel just after 5:00pm when it docked in Ireland, where a man was arrested in connection with the incident. He remains in custody under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Eastern Region.

FATAL DISCOVERY

The woman, understood to be a 40-year-old Irish national, was discovered unresponsive in a toilet cubicle on board and was pronounced dead at the scene. She was reportedly part of a group traveling to Ireland. The circumstances of her death remain unclear, and a crime scene has been declared. Her body was not removed immediately, as forensic officers carried out investigations overnight.

An autopsy is being carried out at Waterford University Hospital, and Gardaí have confirmed that the results will determine the course of their investigation.

BRAWL ERUPTS ONBOARD

It is understood a “violent incident” took place onboard the ferry prior to its arrival at Rosslare. Approximately 30 minutes before docking, the ship’s captain made an emergency call as tensions escalated. Witnesses say a violent confrontation erupted among a group of passengers, with Gardaí forced to intervene upon arrival.

Armed Gardaí and the Public Order Unit boarded the vessel as soon as it arrived at the port, sealing off the area as a crime scene. A number of ambulances were also deployed to the scene.

A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the inquiry, and a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been assigned to support the deceased’s family.

INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY

A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí in Wexford are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman following an incident on board a passenger ferry en route to Rosslare, Co. Wexford this evening. Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to the incident shortly after 5:00pm and embarked the ship, which is currently docked at Rosslare Harbour. A woman was later pronounced deceased, and her body remains at the scene.”

The scene has been preserved for technical and forensic examination. The Office of the State Pathologist and the local Coroner have been notified.

LOCAL REACTION

Local councillor Ger Carthy, who attended the scene in his role as an ambulance officer, described the situation as deeply distressing: “There’s an air of shock and sadness here in Rosslare tonight over what unfolded on board the Stena Nordica. Regardless of the circumstances, at the centre of this is a woman who has lost her life, and the thoughts of the community are with her family.”

He praised the swift multi-agency response: “The speed and efficiency of the emergency services in handling such a serious incident show that the mechanisms are in place to react quickly when needed.”

SAILING DISRUPTIONS

Stena Line confirmed that services were severely impacted, with the 7:30pm sailing from Rosslare and the 1:30am sailing from Fishguard both cancelled as a result of the incident.

A spokesperson for the company stated: “An incident occurred this afternoon on the 2:00pm sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare. This is a police matter, so we are directing all further questions to the Gardaí.”

All passengers booked on the cancelled Rosslare to Fishguard sailing were accommodated by Irish Ferries on their 8:45pm service to Pembroke.

Passengers and crew members are expected to be interviewed as part of the investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

WERE YOU ON THE FERRY?

The Herald would like to hear from any passengers on board the Stena Nordica during Tuesday’s sailing from Fishguard. If you witnessed the events or have any information, please contact our newsroom via Facebook.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

26 minutes ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.

Crime

Pembrokeshire man sent to Crown Court over death by careless driving charge

Published

2 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been sent to the Crown Court to stand trial accused of causing a death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Alexander MacCallum, aged 28, of Beach Road, Llanreath, Pembroke Dock, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 18).

The court heard that MacCallum is charged with causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving following an incident on Thursday (June 13, 2024).

No plea was entered at this stage of the proceedings.

Magistrates were told the case was too serious to be dealt with at magistrates’ level and ordered that it be sent to the Crown Court for trial.

MacCallum was sent to the Crown Court on unconditional bail, with further proceedings to take place at a later date.

The prosecution was brought by Dyfed-Powys Police. No defence solicitor was formally recorded at the hearing.

Crime

Breakthrough in 1993 Tooze murders: 86-year-old man arrested after cold case review

Published

4 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE investigating one of Wales’ most disturbing unsolved double murders have arrested an 86-year-old man on suspicion of killing elderly couple Harry and Megan Tooze more than three decades ago.

South Wales Police confirmed the arrest on Tuesday (Dec 17), following a forensic cold case review into the 1993 killings, which shocked the rural community of Llanharry and cast a long shadow over the South Wales justice system.

Harry Tooze, aged 64, and his wife Megan, 67, were found shot dead with a shotgun at their isolated Ty Ar y Waun farmhouse on July 26, 1993. Their bodies were discovered inside a cowshed on the property, concealed beneath carpet and hay bales, having been shot in the head at close range.

The brutality of the killings and the remoteness of the scene prompted one of the most high-profile murder investigations in Wales at the time.

Conviction later quashed

In 1995, Cheryl Tooze’s then-boyfriend, Jonathan Jones, was convicted of the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution case rested heavily on a partial fingerprint found on a teacup at the farmhouse.

However, the conviction unravelled just a year later. In 1996, the Court of Appeal quashed the verdict, ruling it unsafe and highlighting serious concerns about the reliability of the fingerprint evidence. The decision was widely regarded as a significant miscarriage of justice.

Jones, who consistently maintained his innocence, was supported throughout the ordeal by Cheryl Tooze, whom he later married. The couple have since spoken publicly about the devastating impact of the case on their lives.

Despite renewed appeals and periodic reviews, no one else was charged and the murders remained unresolved for nearly 30 years.

Operation Vega and forensic advances

In 2023, marking the 30th anniversary of the killings, South Wales Police launched a full cold case review under Operation Vega. The review was led by forensic scientist Professor Angela Gallop, one of the UK’s most respected figures in forensic investigation.

Detectives re-examined preserved exhibits from the original crime scene using modern forensic and DNA techniques that were not available in the early 1990s. Police have not disclosed which items were re-analysed or what evidence led to the latest arrest.

On December 17, officers arrested an 86-year-old man on suspicion of murdering Harry and Megan Tooze. He remains in police custody while enquiries continue. No further details about the suspect have been released at this stage.

Police appeal for information

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Mark Lewis described the arrest as a significant moment, but stressed that the investigation is ongoing.

He said: “While this arrest is clearly a significant development in the investigation, our enquiries are very much ongoing. This case has affected many people over the years and our aim is to find answers to the unanswered questions which remain about their deaths over 30 years on.

“Even with the passage of time, I would urge anyone who has information about the murders, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward and speak to police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Wales Police, quoting occurrence number 2300016841.