GARDAÍ HAVE confirmed that the two middle-aged sisters whose bodies were found on a beach in Co Clare on Friday had recently moved to live in Waterford from Wales.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis carried out postmortems at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick on Friday night.
The postmortems confirmed that there was no foul play or any suspicious element in their deaths, while gardaí also dismissed any suggestions of a suicide pact.
Gardaí said they were treating the deaths as a tragic accident but that they were still trying to establish those circumstances.
While the results of the postmortems have not been released, it is understood drowning has been established as the cause of death.
The fully clothed bodies were found on the rocks about three metres apart and seven metres from the edge of the beach. However, their clothing was wet. This has given rise to speculation that whatever tragedy befell the women occurred on the strand and that the bodies were washed on to the rocks with the tide.
Gardaí have also confirmed they now know the identities of the sisters and have established they had an address in Waterford. The discovery of a UK-registered car at the scene delayed the process of identification as officers had to inquire through police forces in the UK to establish the name of the registered owner.
“We are now satisfied that we have identified the women, but we are still going through the process of notifying all family members,” a Garda spokesman said.
A local man walking horses on the strand with his daughter made the discovery at about 10.30am on Friday.
The bodies were found close to a slipway and lay parallel to the shoreline. It was not immediately clear how long the women had been there; however, it is understood their car was observed in the area on Thursday evening and at several locations around Co Clare earlier in the week.
Gardaí and members of the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard set up a cordon around the area so that the scene could be preserved and examined.
An Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals dog warden removed a dog from the car. The dog is being cared for in Ennis dog pound.
Gardaí quickly established the identity of the women from personal belongings found in the car; however, detectives had to undertake further comprehensive inquiries to confirm who the women were.
Supt Colm O’Sullivan of Ennistymon said: “Gardaí are satisfied that there was no external hand in the deaths of these women. There was no foul play and we are treating the deaths as a tragic accident. We now have to establish how this happened.”
Gardaí are examining a number of theories, including that one of the women may have fallen or was struck by a freak wave while walking the beach or standing on the slipway and that her sister went to her aid.
Investigators are also believed to be looking at the possibility that one of the women may have suffered a medical episode and collapsed and that the other tried to help her.
It is understood that some medication belonging to one of the victims was discovered in the vehicle.
Gardaí have also said the names of the victims will not be released.
“As we are now satisfied that this was a tragic accident – that matter of releasing names is now up to the family as it is now a private matter. Gardaí will conclude their investigation into the tragedy with a view to preparing a file for the county coroner, who will hold an inquest at a later date,” a Garda spokesman said.