Family of Irish woman found dead on yacht in New York file civil lawsuit

The family of a Carlow fashion designer who died in the US last summer have filed a civil lawsuit against the owner of the boat where she was found dead.

Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra (33) was found unresponsive on a yacht in the Hamptons in August 2025.

Originally from Carlow, Nolan-O'Slatarra had been living in New York for a number of years, where she ran her own fashion company East by East.

It's understood she had travelled to the Hamptons for business.

In the early hours of August 5th last year, she was discovered unconscious on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club, where she was later pronounced dead by emergency services.

This week, her mother filed legal proceedings in New York against Christopher Durnan, whose yacht Martha was discovered on.

Elma Nolan is seeking damages of $50 million (€43 million) for the alleged 'wrongful death', and for 'personal injuries' her daughter sustained prior to her death.

Mr Christopher Durnan has been notified.

Speaking to New York Magazine late last year, Durnan’s lawyer, Robert Holdman, said Durnan was “distraught” after the death.

He denied that he was responsible for the woman’s death.

According to Holdman, Durnan told the police that she suddenly went limp between 10.30pm and 11pm and he thought she was having a heart attack.

Holdman said Durnan sought help and attempted CPR when Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra lost consciousness.