Andrew Carey at St Mary’s Burial Ground Rathkeale, Limerick
DEPUTY state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis is expected to the scene at Rathekeale’s St Mary’s Burial Ground this Tuesday morning where work has halted during the exhumation of the remains of a woman who died 20 years ago.
42-year-old Margot Seery died of asphyxiation from choking in 1994 and although her death was initially not thought to be suspicious, gardai from the Cold Case unit in Terenure have reopened the file following the receipt of fresh information.
Dr Curtis, accompanied by an anthroplogist, will examine the remains in situ and determine whether or not they can be removed from the grave to University Hospital Limerick.
It is part of a ongoing garda investigation and an exhumation order which was made by the Minister for justice earlier this summer.
Speaking outside the cemetery which has been declared a crime scene by An Garda Siochana, West Limerick Coroner Mr Brendan Nix said that he wanted to “compliment the gardai and the local people in the due despatch in which this entire matter is being dealt with and the total professionalism.”
Mr Nix added that the events at the burial ground was part of an investigation that will be “ongoing for some time”.
The body of Ms Seery was discovered in an apartment in Rathmines in 1994 after she had spent the night out socialising. Her death was not thought to be suspicious. No one was sought in connection to her death.
However, during the summer a man walked into a Dublin city garda station and claimed he killed the young Limerick woman.
The man, who is understood to have a history of psychiatric problems, brought detectives to the flat where Ms Seery died and outlined the events of the night to officers, including how he met the deceased and spent the evening socialising with her.
Following her death, Ms Seery was buried with relatives in St Mary’s burial ground in Rathkeale cemetery in Co Limerick.
Shortly after 7.30am this Tuesday morning, the family pilot was screened off from public viewing by large plastic sheeting and the exhumation began.
Work has now halted and Dr Curtis is to arrive shortly where an further assessment and examination of the scene is to be done and the results of which will determine the next phase of this murder probe.
More to follow.
