The mother of a 23 year old woman who was found dead in Monaghan over two years ago is calling on the justice minister to meet with her and her family.
Julieanne Lynch says she wants to highlight the situation with Jim O'Callaghan and to date she has received no correspondence directly from the justice minister.
Kelly Lynch was discovered in the Ulster Canal in Monaghan town on St Patrick's Day 2024. Gardaí believe she wandered off alone and fell from a bridge into the canal and are not treating her death as suspicious.
Kelly who was from Lisnaskea, was found with 93 different injuries to her body according to an independent forensic report, and her family have repeatedly pushed for a murder investigation into her death.
However An Garda Síóchána have said they are not treating her death as suspicious, claiming she died after an "accidental fall" into the canal where she drowned in March 2024.
A new report concludes that it remains the state pathologist's opinion that Kelly's death was due to "drowning" and that there was "no evidence to suggest a physical assault" but her family are continuing to suspect foul play.
Julieanne says to date she has received no assistance from politicians except for Deputy Matt Carthy and she also welcomed Senator Sarah O'Reilly highlighting Kelly's death in the Seanad.
Meanwhile, Juileanne says in recent weeks further information has come to light but she says people are fearful in Monaghan to go to the Gardai.
An Garda Síóchána have issued the following statement this afternoon in relation to the case.
The investigation into the death of Ms. Lynch remains open and continues to be carried out by an investigation team based at Monaghan Garda Station. The investigation included an official state post mortem carried out by the State Pathologist Office.
On 21st October 2024, then Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern, Louth-Cavan-Monaghan Division, met with the family of Ms Kelly Lynch and listened carefully to their concerns.
Following this meeting the Garda Commissioner directed that a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) from a Division external to the Louth-Cavan-Monaghan Division conduct a peer review of the investigation into the death of Ms Lynch .
This peer review into the ongoing Garda investigation also remains ongoing. An Garda Síochána is also assisting the Coroner’s Inquest and fully co-operating with the Fiosrú investigation. These processes are ongoing.
The Garda investigation team continue to keep the Lynch family up to date with the progress of the investigation through their legal representatives. An Garda Síochána appeals to anyone with direct information on the death of Ms Lynch to contact Gardaí.
