*Photograph: Joe Buckley
A STATE post mortem on the remains of Patrick Nugent has been completed.
An Garda Síochána confirmed on Thursday evening that the post mortem has been completed. “The results of the post mortem are not being released for operational reasons,” a spokesperson confirmed.
Arrangements for the re-internment of Patricks’ remains at Feenagh Cemetery will be made in conjunction with the local coroner and Patrick’s family.
At dawn on Tuesday morning, Gardaí began the process of exhuming Patrick’s remains. Mr Nugent was working as a banqueting manager at Bunratty Castle, when he was found dead in the Folk Park near the popular tourist attraction on 11th February 1984.
In an original post-mortem conducted forty years ago, it detailed that Patrick suffered “abdominal injuries which were consistent with crushing”. Senior investigating officer, Inspector David Finnerty said when questioned on what could be gauged from the findings four decades ago said, “this is a fresh post-mortem and I am not going to pre-judge any matters that arise out of that report”.
He was hopeful advances in technology over the intervening four decades could offer fresh information. “In conjunction with the State Pathologist, Forensic Science Ireland and forensic anthropologists, this fresh post-mortem may present opportunities to this investigation team. In addition and most importantly, it may provide clarity from the Nugent family”.
“Every investigation presents challenge, this investigation is forty years old, forty years ago the investigation team didn’t have the benefit of a forensic collision expert, we have that and a forensic collision expert has visited and examined The Barn,” Insp Finnerty outlined. He said it was “hoped” the forensic collision expert would be able to use information from 1984 in their analysis.
Allegations that Patrick’s death was not properly investigated were considered by an independent review mechanism in 2014, which recommended that the case be examined under the Section 42 provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
Following the conclusion of the Clyne Report in October 2020, a 111 page inquiry completed by retired judge Patrick Clyne was eventually handed to the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee (FG) in November 2021, this led to the commencement of a fresh investigation in 2022 which continues and resulted in the move to exhume Patrick’s remains.
An Garda Síochána continue to appeal to any person with information in relation to the death of Patrick Nugent to contact the Incident Room at Shannon Garda Station on (061)-365900, the Garda confidential number 1800 666 111 or any member of An Garda Síochána at any Garda Station.
