Margaret and Nicola McDonough: Detectives wait to question injured graduate, 23, over death of her mother in Premier Inn hotel mystery Margaret and Nicola McDonough found by horrified guests at Premier Inn Nicola, 23, in critical condition after being found slumped in hotel hallway Nicola's father Thomas is keeping a vigil at his daughter's bedside By Steve Robson, Fiona Mcwhirter and Kirsten Johnson Detectives were tonight still waiting to question a critically-ill woman over the death of her mother in a mysterious hotel-room tragedy. Margaret McDonough, 52, died in hospital after being found with serious wounds in a room at a Premier Inn early on Friday morning. Her daughter Nicola, 23, was found lying in the corridor outside the room also severely injured. Mother and daughter: Nicola McDonough, 23, is fighting for her life, left, while Margaret, right, suffered fatal injuries She remained in a critical condition in hospital this evening, too ill to help police unravel what had caused her mother's death. As the women's devastated family gathered at Miss McDonough's bedside, police issued an urgent appeal for information about how the mother and daughter spent the final few hours before the incident. Officers are keen to discover why the pair, from Paisley, had booked into a hotel just a few miles from their own home. They also want to know where the pair went in the nine hours between checking into the Greenock hotel at around 4pm on Thursday and returning to their room at around 1am. Police have said that no-one had yet been arrested or charged in connection with the incident, and they also refused to confirm whether or not they were looking for anyone as a possible suspect in the case. Thursday 9am - Several sightings of Nicola and Margaret in the Paisley area where they live 10am - Last sighting of pair in red Suzuki Swift registration SL56 CB 3.50pm - Margaret and Nicola check into a double room at Premier Inn 25 miles away from their home in Greenock. Left a short time later Friday 12.30am - 1am - The pair returned to the hotel 7am - Guests found Nicola slumped unconscious in the hallway outside hotel room. Margaret discovered inside Afternoon - Margaret dies from her injuries. Nicola remains in intensive care in a critical condition Both women were taken by ambulance to hospital where doctors fought in vain to save Margaret, who died yesterday afternoon. Police were today guarding the family's detached home in a quiet residential street in Paisley. A close relative said the family were too upset to talk about the tragedy, particularly the loss of Mrs McDonough, and were praying for her daughter's recovery. Mrs McDonough's ex-husband, Thomas, 56, of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, a former building firm boss, was tonight keeping a vigil at his daughter's bedside in Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock, where she is being treated for her injuries. Although the couple were divorced, they still remained on friendly terms and Mr McDonough was last night said to be "devastated." Police have been unable to speak to Miss McDonough, who studied social work and works at Cosgrove Care charity, because she is still too ill to talk. On Facebook yesterday, family friends willed Miss McDonough to get well and posted words of encouragement, saying: "She's a wee fighter. Hope they get the scum who did this to them. Another said: "We're all praying xx." Detective Inspector David Wagstaff, from Police Scotland, appealed for help in tracing the pair's movements in the hours before they were found. 'There have been several sightings of Margaret in the Paisley area on Thursday morning until about 10am,' he said. 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. After checking in I know that they left the hotel a short time later and possibly returned between 12.30am and 1am. 'I'd like to speak with anyone who saw them or their vehicle between 9am on the Thursday and 7am on the Friday morning.' A spokeswoman for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, which operates Premier Inn, today confirmed the 40-room hotel was still open and operating as normal. However a police officer remained in the building and the room where the two women were staying was not available to book, the spokeswoman added. She said: 'We are assisting the police with enquiries and cannot comment further on the matter at this stage.' Questions: Nicola and Margaret McDonough booked into the Premier Inn hotel in Greenock, 25 miles from their home in Paisley on Thursday afternoon