Almost one third of skeletal remains found in Ireland last year were 'ancient' humans, report finds
OUT OF 28 cases of skeletonised remains dealt with by the Office of the State Pathologist last year, almost one third were determined to be ancient human remains.
That's according to the 2022 Annual Report of the Office of the State Pathologist, published this Tuesday morning by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee.
The report details the wide range of valuable work conducted by the Office in 2022 during which 417 cases were dealt with, of which 213 were State forensic cases.
11 out of the 28 cases of skeletonised remains dealt with by the State Pathologist that year were found to be human remains, with 16 cases determined to be animal bones and one case determined to be wood.
Of those 11 cases, eight were then determined to be ancient human remains, and were referred to the National Museum of Ireland. Of the remaining three cases, one was identified as modern, one is awaiting carbon dating and the third is awaiting DNA analysis.
Overall during 2022, 417 cases were dealt with by the Office of the state Pathologist, increasing from 327 in the previous year. The majority of these, 213, were state forensic cases comprising 51% of the total caseload.
At the direction of the Dublin District Coroner, the Office also carried out 172 adult non-suspicious post mortem examinations that year.
Two new State Pathologists and two Deputy State Pathologists were appointed in 2022 to work alongside Chief State Pathologist Professor Linda Mulligan, who was appointed in 2021, bringing the team to a full complement.
A number of academic forensic pathology opportunities were introduced in 2022, including an annual elective UCD medical student attachment following the appointment of Professor Mulligan as a clinical professor at the UCD School of Medicine.
Speaking today, Minister McEntee said she would like "to thank the Chief State Pathologist, Professor Linda Mulligan, her team of forensic pathologists, and the wider office and laboratory team, for their unwavering commitment and professionalism in the provision of an oftentimes difficult and complex service."