Family of Irishwoman, 33, found dead on yacht in New York launch $50m ‘wrongful death’ civil action against boat owner

THE family of an Irish designer who was found dead at a yacht club in New York last year have launched a lawsuit against the boat’s owner.

Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, who was 33 and originally from Co Carlow, was found dead on a boat, called The Ripple, in The Hamptons in August 2025.

Martha had moved to the US at the age of 24 and went on to co-found a high-end beachwear brand, East X East, which had been trading for four years when she died.

The Suffolk County Police Department initially said homicide detectives were investigating her death, but later said there was no evidence to suggest foul play.

Matha’s mum Elma Nolan, who is based in Carlow, filed wrongful death proceedings against a man who is understood to be the boats owner for $50m this week.

The legal action, against Christopher Durnan of Garden City in New York, was filed in the Supreme Court of New York by Elma and a US-based lawyer who is handling Martha’s estate.

The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for the wrongful death of Martha and the “personal injuries and conscious pain and suffering” she is alleged to have sustained before her death.

It alleges that the defendant “intentionally and wrongfully assaulted” her.

And the filing alleges “gross negligence and wanton conduct” by the defendant, which it is claimed caused Martha’s death.

Speaking in an article published in New York Magazine last year, Durnan’s lawyer said the pair had been on his clients together.

He said his client was “distraught” by Martha’s death and that he described her as a “good friend”.

Martha studied in UCD’s Smurfit Business School and went on to work in finance and marketing. She had no plans to move home from Manhattan.