An Garda Síochána has made its first public appeal for information about the death of a Co Fermanagh woman whose body was found in a canal in Monaghan one year ago.
The heartbroken family of Kelly Lynch (23) have made desperate pleas for answers since her body was found in the Ulster Canal in the early hours of St Patrick’s Day 2024.
In October, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered an internal review into the investigation of Ms Lynch’s death after meeting with the family.
Ms Lynch’s body was discovered on the morning of Sunday March 17 after a night out with friends in the town.
Following a post-mortem which returned a cause of death of drowning, An Garda Síochána said it was not treating Ms Lynch’s death as suspicious and referred it to the coroner.
Her parents Sean and Julieanne Lynch have raised concerns over other injuries revealed during the post-mortem and other aspects of the investigation.
After meeting with the Lynch family to address their concerns over the initial investigation, Mr Harris confirmed a separate division of the gardaí had commenced a review of the probe.
A fresh statement from the force ahead of Ms Lynch’s first anniversary includes its first public appeal for information on her death.
“A part of us died the day Kelly was taken from us. We will never be the same again,” Ms Lynch’s mum Julieanne said.
“It will be a whole year tomorrow and I am sick to the depths of my soul.
“Why are An Garda Síochána only appealing for information now, a year after Kelly was found dead?
“Why not the days and weeks following the discovery of her body?
“Practically a year on, and the heaviness grows in magnitude.
“The sadness and emptiness fills every cell in my body. However, I will not stop fighting for the truth or answers to our questions.”
