Tragic Ruth Maguire’s sister has called for barriers to be erected around the pier where the mother of three fell to her death last month.
And the family of the 30-year-old health assistant, who died while on a friend’s hen party in Carlingford, Co Louth, may never know exactly how she ended up in the lough.
Her sister Rachel Wilkinson said Ruth was a great mum and devoted to the three kids she had with fiance James Griffin.
Ruth, who was “the baby of the family” was the most sensible of her siblings and always the designated driver, her sister added.
It was “so out of character” for her to not return home, Rachel told RTE Radio One’s Sunday With Miriam.
It was Ruth’s photo of a white pvc door, posted on Instagram shortly before her death, that led the search to the lough in Carlingford.
Her body was recovered by rescue workers on March 18.
Sister of tragic Ruth Maguire pays tribute to her as kids mark first Mother's Day without their mum
Her family has now called for barriers to be erected around Carlingford pier so another tragedy might be prevented – but they have been told the council cannot move on this issue until after the results of Ruth’s inquest.
Rachel said: “Even so much as a child could run out chasing a ball, there’s no barrier there whatsoever.
“There’s a wall leading to the pier and even that’s quite open. A gust of wind and a child could be in the water.
“The only problem is a councillor said they have to wait until after the inquest and we’re told that could be next year.
“In the interim this could happen to another family. This could be somebody else’s sister, somebody else’s daughter.”
With a result of the investigation possibly not available until next year, Rachel says the family may never know how Ruth ended up in the water.
Heartbroken fiancé of tragic Irishwoman Ruth Maguire, 30, pays tribute to his 'soulmate'
She added: “She wouldn’t have ever gone to a party somewhere else or she wouldn’t have met up with a different crowd.
"She just wouldn’t have done that. She was a home bird, she would have just wanted to go home.”
Yesterday was particularly heartbreaking for Ruth’s children Tyler, 10, Lydia, six, and five-year-old Oliver as they marked the first Mother’s Day without her.
Rachel said: “We’re just trying to help each other.
“We’re just trying to rally around them and it’s obviously very sad – especially today on Mother’s Day – and there are going to be events coming up like the kids’ birthdays.”
Friends of tragic Irish mum Ruth Maguire set up a fundraising page to help her grieving family
