Mother And Daughter Killed By Bloodbath In Hotel

A FRANTIC dad was keeping a hospital vigil for his stricken daughter today as she battled for life — after she suffered horrific wounds in a hotel knife attack which claimed the life of her mother. Thomas McDonough, 56, rushed to the bedside of 23-year-old Nicola who was discovered by a shocked guest slumped in the corridor of a Premier Inn yesterday morning. His ex-wife Margaret, 52, was also found critically injured in a nearby room at the waterfront budget hotel in Greenock, but died hours later. Cops said the injuries of both women, from Paisley, were "significant". Former building firm boss Thomas, of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, and other relatives were said to be shocked and baffled by the incident. His brother John, 53, said: "We're completely at a loss. Nobody knows a thing. Not got a clue. I'm going to see Thomas later on. I just heard about it today at work and I came home. "I don't know why they would be down in Greenock. "We just haven't a clue, we're waiting to find out." Cops were last night waiting to speak to Nicola, who studied social work and works at Cosgrove Care charity, but she was still too ill to talk. Her condition was described as "critical". She was rushed to Inverclyde Royal Hospital with Margaret, who also has three sons Kevin, 32, Michael, 31, and Matthew, 20, after they were found badly injured at 7am. Yesterday scores of cops sealed off the hotel car park while forensics experts carried out a search. It's not known if anyone else was involved in the incident. Chief Superintendent Alan Speirs divisional commander for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, said: "We are still trying to piece together exactly what has happened. "Both women had significant injuries. Sadly the older lady died and her daughter remains critically ill. It's a tragic set of circumstances." He added: "The mother has a number of sons who are as astonished as we are in terms of the set of circumstances and the rationale for what may have happened." Last night it emerged Margaret, was a foster carer for Renfrewshire Council who stood for the Lib Dems in the local elections. She fought for the Johnstone North, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch seat but was defeated by the standing Labour candidate. She was last seen with care worker Nicola in Paisley at around 9am on Thursday. Police are probing their whereabouts between then and the time they were found in the hotel. They booked themselves into the same room at some point on Thursday. Their red Suzuki Swift car was found in the car park and was later removed by forensics. Other guests were allowed to move about the premises, but officers noted the details of anyone arriving or leaving. A male guest, who drove up from England for a wedding, said: "We arrived and the police were here already. "We don't know what's gone on. It looks serious." DI David Wagstaff said: "I really need anyone who can help us put together their last known movements to come forward due to the seriousness of the incident. "Inquiries are at a very early stage, and we are piecing together the movements of Margaret and her daughter. "We know both women were in the Paisley area at around 9am on Thursday, but we are trying to establish their movements from that time until 7am, when they were found. "I would appeal to anyone who saw these two women in their vehicle to come forward. "We have been unable as yet to speak to Margaret's daughter due to her ill health." Last night a spokesman at the 40-room Premier Inn said: "We are helping police with their investigations."