Exhumation underway of Clare man killed in Bunratty more than forty years ago

The remains of a County Clare man who was killed following an incident in Bunratty more than 40 years ago are being exhumed to facilitate a new post mortem.

The painstaking process to exhume the remains of Patrick Nugent from a plot at Feenagh cemetery, close to the town of Sixmilebridge, began this Tuesday morning following consultation with members of his family.

A Forensic Anthropologist, Dr Laureen Buckley is assisting with the exhumation and Dr Hedi Okkers, Assistant State Pathologist, will carry out a formal State Post Mortem.

While one man was charged in relation Patrick Nugent's death, he was acquitted by a jury and nobody else has ever been prosecuted.

Judge Patrick Clyne was appointed to carry out a special enquiry into the circumstances of the 23-year-old's death in 2017 and in 2022 the Garda Commissioner directed that a fresh investigation be carried out.

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.

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This new investigation team, utilising advances in modern day investigative techniques have been gathering, reviewing and re-examining all available material.

"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 February 10/11 1984,” said Inspector David Finnerty at a media briefing at Shannon garda station.

"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 February 10/11, 1984," he added.

Insp Finnerty says 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?," he stated.

According to the inspector, 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, 40 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team.” I would urge any person or persons 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.”