The tearful sister of Ruth Maguire has told of the moment "panic set in" when the tragic mum went missing.
Rachel Wilkinson also called for safety barriers to be erected around the pier where the 30-year-old fell to her death.
The mum-of-three tragically died while on a friend’s hen party in Carlingford, Co Louth.
Her body was recovered from the water by rescue workers on March 18.
Sister Rachel has now opened up on the horrific moment Ruth's pals realised that the mum-of three had gone missing.
Family of tragic Ruth Maguire call for barriers to be erected around pier where mum-of-three died
She told Ireland AM: "Her phone was off from about half 12 or before, so they only started ringing her phone around half 12 when they realised she was the one who hadn't come back.
"Someone said she'd mentioned she wanted to go home to Newcastle, which being Ruth and not wanting to go on party nights, I mean you could see it's something that Ruth would have done.
"I think they hoped that's what had happened, but the next morning when they realised she wasn't there, that's when the panic set in."
Ruth's family have also called for greater safety precautions to be put in place on the pier where the young mum died.
Sister of tragic Ruth Maguire pays tribute to her as kids mark first Mother's Day without their mum
Rachel added: "Had there been CCTV, had there been better lighting, and the main thing a barrier, just to close it off.
"If a barrier had have been there, just a hazard to let somebody know: 'Don't go across here'.
"I don't really get why Ruth would have walked across the water, but had there been a barrier, I imagine she wouldn't have."
- Ireland AM airs on Virgin Media One from Monday to Friday, 7am – 10.30am
