A FORMAL state post-mortem on the body of Patrick Nugent will be carried out.
No timeframe has been put in place for the interviewing of all witnesses as part of a fresh investigation into the February 1984 death of Sixmilebridge man, Patrick Nugent. Gardaí are hopeful that advances in technology could lead to a new breakthrough with the investigation, forty years later.
On Tuesday morning as part of a new investigation into Patrick’s death, An Garda Síochána has commenced the exhumation of Patricks remains to allow a new State Post Mortem examination to take place.
In 2022, An Garda Síochána commenced a new investigation into the circumstances of Patrick’s death in the early hours of the 11th February 1984.
Speaking at a press briefing at Shannon Garda Station on Tuesday morning, senior investigating officer, Insp David Finnery stated, “An Garda Síochána is very aware that the Nugent Family suffered the bereavement of their son and brother on the night of the 10th/ 11th February 1984, and have had to live with that bereavement and the uncertainty around the circumstances of Patricks death for the last 40 years”.
He confirmed that the exhumation of Patrick’s remains will allow for a new State Post Mortem examination to take place. “An Garda Síochána has kept Patricks family informed of the current status of this Garda investigation and the events that are taking place this morning and over the coming hours and days”.
Patrick was twenty three years of age when he died, he was working as The Banquet Manager in Bunratty Folk Park, Bunratty County Clare. In the early morning (approx. 4am) of the 11th February 1984 an incident occurred in the carpark of The Barn when he sustained serious injuries, from which he died.
His death at the time was investigated at Shannon Garda Station assisted by the ‘Investigation Section’ from the Technical Bureau, Garda Headquarters.
Following that investigation, the late William Ryan was charged in connection with Patrick’s death, but was subsequently acquitted and cleared of any criminal charges. To date no other person has been charged in relation to the death of Patrick Nugent.
A Coroner’s Inquest took place in October 1985. The Jury returned a verdict of accidental death but attached a rider which included “the jury are far from satisfied as to the circumstances under which Patrick Nugent sustained the injuries which caused his death. Accordingly, the Jury requests the Minister for Justice to have the matter further investigated”.
In 2014 the Government established an Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) which included the death of Patrick Nugent. The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) recommended the establishment of a special inquiry under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. In 2017 the Government appointed Judge Patrick Clyne to carry out this inquiry. Judge Clyne reported to the Minister for Justice in October 2020. The report was sent to the Garda Commissioner and in 2022 the Garda Commissioner directed a fresh investigation into the circumstances of the death of Patrick Nugent.
An investigation team, from within the Clare Garda division, has been established at Shannon Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer. The local Clare Divisional Investigation team is supported by the Serious Crime Review Team, Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Insp Finnerty outlined, “This new investigation team have been gathering, reviewing and re-examining all available material. The investigation team are utilising advances in modern day investigative techniques. The original scene at The Barn has been re-examined by a Forensic Collision Investigator.
“Following consultation with the State Pathologists Office and Forensic Science Ireland the remains of Patrick Nugent are being exhumed, this morning. This sensitive operation, will be carried out expeditiously and respectfully. A Forensic Anthropologist, Dr Laureen Buckley will assist with this exhumation. Dr. Hedi Okkers, Assistant State Pathologist will carry out a formal State Post Mortem. It is hoped that with advances in technology and investigative techniques will progress this investigation forty years later”.
He confirmed that new Garda investigation team at Shannon Garda Station are currently in the process of interviewing witnesses who attended the party. However, there is no timeframe in place for this piece of work, he said.
Issuing a renewed appeal to the public, Insp Finnerty said, “The primary focus of this investigation is the victim, Patrick Nugent and his family. Patricks family deserve to know, and to bring closure to what happened to Patrick on the night of the 10th/ 11th February 1984. I want to speak to any person who has any knowledge of the events that took place at The Barn, Bunratty Castle on the night of the 10th/ 11th February 1984”.
The investigation is focused on all those who attended the party on the night as either a guest or a member of staff. Do you now recall something that previously you were unable to share with the investigation? Are you a family member or friend of anyone who attended the party? You may be able to assist the investigation? Do you have photographs which were taken on the night.
“There may still be persons, who have information on Patrick’s death, either at the time or subsequently, and who haven’t yet spoken to Gardaí, or may have spoken to Gardaí but were not in a position to tell everything that they know; I am appealing to those persons, forty years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team. I would urge person(s) 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. I finally appeal to any person who may have information relative to Patricks death not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision. I cannot reiterate that enough”, he concluded.
