MANAGEMENT AT the nursing home in Waterford where an elderly resident died in suspicious circumstances have expressed their sadness as gardaí continued their investigations.
Vera Vollrath (83) was found dead in her bedroom at Killure Bridge nursing home outside Waterford city at about 1.30am on Monday. She originally came from Tramore.
A man was still being questioned last night by gardaí in Waterford, a day after being arrested at Dublin airport.
It is understood the alarm was raised by the woman’s daughter after staff at the nursing home had initially thought that Ms Vollrath’s death was due to natural causes.
A report relating to her death was received by gardaí in Tramore at about 5.30am on Monday and a full-scale investigation was initiated by Det Garda Supt Dominic Hayes.
Garda Supt Chris Delaney of Waterford Garda station said yesterday that gardaí were speaking to residents and staff at the nursing home as well as friends and acquaintances of Ms Vollrath, who knew her when she lived in Tramore.
The Killure Bridge Partnership, owners of the nursing home which is about three kilometres from Waterford city and eight kilometres from Tramore, issued a statement yesterday. The statement said that management, staff and residents were “deeply saddened by the passing of our friend Vera Vollrath”.
Describing Ms Vollrath as a much-loved resident, friend and companion, who was part of the “community” at Killure Bridge since May 2010, they said they were fully co-operating with the State authorities while investigations continue into the death.
“We are also providing our residents and staff with comfort and support during this very difficult and upsetting time and ask that the media do not add further to their distress and respect the privacy of our residents and staff,” they said.
Ms Vollrath had lived abroad for a number of years before settling back in the town in the Tramore Heights estate some years ago.
She was born Veronica Power and her family ran a pub in Tramore.
Her late husband, Paul Vollrath, was from Germany and was a prominent officer in the merchant marine.
The couple had two sons and one daughter, none of whom now live in Tramore.
Ms Vollrath’s husband was a German sailor and became well-known in shipping circles after the second World War after a ship on which he was the senior second officer, the Wilhelm Gustloff, was sunk by the Russian navy while attempting to transport refugees across the Baltic Sea.
Carrying up to 9,334 passengers, the ship lost all but about 800 who were on board when the attack occurred on January 31st, 1945.
Ms Vollrath’s funeral Mass is due to take place tomorrow morning at the Church of the Holy Cross, Tramore.