Thousands of pounds have been raised for a grieving mother searching for answers about her young daughter’s death in a canal in Monaghan on St Patrick’s Day.
The body of Lisnaskea woman Kelly Lynch was discovered on the morning of Sunday March 17 in the Ulster Canal.
More than four months after her daughter’s death, Julieanne Lynch says her family are still waiting for answers about what happened to Kelly and have raised concerns.
The investigation into Kelly’s death is currently the subject of a Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission probe, while preparation of an inquest file is ongoing.
A post-mortem conducted following the discovery of Kelly’s body found the cause of death to be drowning, but her family has claimed that other injuries she suffered required further investigation..
They say she had been missing for more than 24 hours before her body was found and An Garda Síochána informed.
A fundraiser set up by the family in order to fund legal fees and an independent investigator has raised more than £4,000.
“The fundraiser was set up after a lot of public support,” Ms Lynch told The Irish News.
She added that the family were seeking independent testing of Kelly’s clothing.
“We are also liaising with independent experts in crime, and who believe Kelly’s death should have been treated as suspicious from the outset.
“I know I can never have my daughter back, but there has to be justice to what I believe was a suspicious death.”
An Garda Síochána have said following a post-mortem and consultation with the state pathologist, the focus of the investigation into Kelly’s death moved towards completion of an inquest file for the coroner.
“A family liaison officer was appointed at the outset of this investigation and this information was relayed to the family of the deceased,” a spokesperson added.
“Local management of An Garda Síochána in Monaghan previously met with the parents of the deceased to address their concerns, and remain in communication with the family.
“As the preparation of a file for the coroner is ongoing, no further information is available at this time.”
