Appeal to Find Relatives of Elderly Irish Woman Who Died Alone in UK

An appeal has been launched to locate the next of kin of an elderly Irish woman who died alone in a UK nursing home, with funeral directors seeking public assistance to identify any living relatives.

The appeal was issued by Ronnie Thompson Funeral Directors on behalf of the South Eastern Trust following the death of Margaret Ellen ‘Peggy’ Murdoch, an 81-year-old woman who passed away in hospital on 9 April 2026 without any known family present.

Ms Murdoch had previously resided in nursing homes in Hillsborough and Lisburn, and had lived on Wilson Street in Lisburn and at Seacash Walk in Antrim before her move to care facilities. The funeral directors stated they have no information about her personal circumstances beyond knowing she had a twin brother who predeceased her.

“There is no doubt that anyone who is related to her or knows her in anyway, deserves an opportunity to mark her passing,” the funeral directors said in a social media statement. They emphasized that no funeral arrangements have been finalised, and the South Eastern Trust will make those plans if no relatives come forward.

The appeal comes amid similar efforts across the UK to trace families of elderly individuals who die without known next of kin. In Greater Manchester, police have also appealed for help in finding the family of Margaret Theresa Doyle, a 73-year-old Irish woman who died in the borough of Bury in October 2024, with investigators believing she may have relatives in Ireland bearing the surnames Doyle or McCarthy.

Funeral directors and authorities stress that locating next of kin is not only a matter of procedural necessity but also ensures that individuals are not laid to rest without the opportunity for loved ones to pay their respects. The South Eastern Trust has confirmed it will proceed with funeral arrangements only if no family members are identified through the appeal.