Greenock hotel: Mother and daughter "not stabbed" POLICE have revealed that a mother found dead in a hotel room and her daughter who was discovered seriously injured nearby had not been stabbed. Officers are waiting to speak to Nicola McDonough, who remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. Her injuries and those to her dead mother Margaret were said to be "substantial" but detectives remain unable to explain the circumstances behind the incident. Weekend reports that the women had been stabbed were inaccurate, officers said. Police hope Ms McDonough, 23, will be able to give more details about what happened in the lead-up to the women being found early on Friday morning. It remains unclear why the women, who lived in a quiet cul-de-sac in Paisley, Renfrewshire, were at the Premier Inn 17 miles away in Greenock, Inverclyde, where they were discovered. Their whereabouts for nine hours on Thursday afternoon also remains a mystery. Neighbours yesterday spoke of their shock at the death of mother-of-five Mrs McDonough, who had been a foster carer for the past decade and had twice stood for local council elections for the Liberal Democrats. The two women had checked in to the hotel at about 3:50pm on Thursday before leaving a short time later and returning between 12:30am and 1am on Friday. Nicola McDonough was discovered around 7am in a hallway and her mother was found in a nearby room. She later died in hospital. Mrs McDonough, who also had three sons, was seen several times in Paisley on Thursday morning prior to heading to Greenock. One neighbour in Corsebar Avenue, who asked not to be named, told The Scotsman: "Margaret was a lovely person - delightful. She was a full-time mother and has lived here maybe 20 years. If her daughter recovers, she may be able to throw some light on what happened. Councillor Eileen McCartin, leader of the Lib Dems in Paisley, said: "I have known Margaret for many years. The dead woman's daughter graduated last month from the University of the West of Scotland with a BA (Hons) in social work and was working with the charity Cosgrove Care. Her father, Thomas, of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, was said to be at her bedside last night. Detective Inspector David Wagstaff, who is leading the inquiry, said: "There have been several sightings of Margaret in the Paisley area on Thursday until about 10am. She and Nicola were also seen within a red-coloured Suzuki Swift car, registration number SL56 CBF that day. I'd like to speak to anyone who may have seen this vehicle or anyone who may have seen Margaret or Nicola since 9am on Thursday. We also know that Margaret and Nicola checked into the Premier Inn at James Watt Way, Greenock at around 3:50pm on the Thursday. I'd like to speak with anyone who saw them, or their vehicle, between 9am on the Thursday and 7am on the Friday.