Deaths of a mum and daughter have left more questions than answers.
Prosecutors are probing a mystery woman’s involvement in the deaths of a mother and daughter believed to have died in a suicide pact.
The police and Crown Office have confirmed a 31-year-old female had been the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with the deaths of Margaret McDonough and her 23-year-old daughter, Nicola.
The pair, from Paisley, were found with horrific believed to be self-inflicted wounds at a Premier Inn hotel in Greenock almost a year ago.
Horrified guests found an unconscious Nicola in the corridor with deep slash wounds.
Mum Margaret, 52, was discovered dead soon afterwards in their hotel room. She had suffered similar injuries.
The bizarre nature of the case the mum and daughter lived just 17 miles from the hotel they checked into left more questions than answers for baffled officers and friends.
Nicola died in hospital three days later and was unable to assist the police in their investigation.
It later transpired the pair had left their home just days after Nicola had completed her social work degree.
Around the time the pair were checking into the hotel, alarm bells started to ring when foster carer Margaret failed to pick up a young boy she was looking after from nursery in Paisley.
Margaret and Nicola were spotted in Linwood, Renfrewshire, at 10pm before returning to the hotel after midnight.
Just six hours later, the pair were discovered with lethal slash wounds.
Police ruled out foul play and said they were not seeking anyone else in relation to the deaths.
It later emerged former Lib Dem candidate Margaret had made a will on May 9 the day before she was found dead.
She had signed it in the presence of a partner at the offices of MSM Solicitors in Paisley.
Her estate of £254,509 was left to her three sons, Kevin, Michael and Matthew, then aged 33, 32 and 21.
Nicola was not mentioned in the will, further fuelling the belief the double tragedy was the result of a suicide pact.
But Nicola’s baffled friends told how they believed the charity worker had been making future plans just days before her death.
It was reported the 23-year-old had completed the final part of her degree, a presentation, just two days before being found with horrendous injuries.
Last night, none of Margaret and Nicola’s family could be contacted.
It was unclear if anyone still lived in the family home, but a car was in the driveway.
Police Scotland confirmed last night that following a lengthy investigation, a report had been made to the procurator fiscal naming an individual in connection with alleged activities relating to the deaths.
The Crown Office said: “The procurator fiscal has received a report concerning a 31-year-old woman in connection with alleged incidents between May 2012 and May 2013.
“The report remains under the consideration of the procurator fiscal.”
Police Scotland and the Crown Office declined to offer any further details.
Report by Marcello Mega and Gordon Blackstock
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