THE family of Pat Nugent, who died in mysterious circumstances at Bunratty Castle 36 years ago, have said they will “not give up” their fight for the truth about his death, as they prepare to meet Department of Justice officials next week to discuss the “next steps” of an independent injury into the case.
A garda investigation, a criminal trial, and an inquest have all failed to establish the full truth around the death of the Bunratty Castle banqueting manager, on February 11, 1984.
Mr Nugent’s family initially believed he had suffered a fatal heart attack, however a postmortem revealed he died after sustaining extensive internal injuries consistent with a road traffic collision.
The 1985 pathology report concluded Mr Nugent was not standing upright when he was apparently struck by a car.
Mr Nugent, (23), from Sixmilebirdge, Co Clare, died while managing a banquet held to mark the 40th wedding anniversary of William and Chrissie Ryan. Mr Ryan was Executive Chef at Shannon Airport, and the anniversary reception was a lavish affair.
In 1985, Mr Ryan was acquitted of charges of Mr Nugent’s manslaughter, dangerous driving causing death, and failing to keep his car at the scene of a road traffic collision.
During his trial, the State alleged Mr Ryan drove his car at speed, striking a car owned by a guest, Garda James Cummins, who was off-duty at the time, and that Mr Ryan’s car then collided with Mr Nugent, pinning him against a wall.
Garda Cummins and another guest, Detective Garda Eugene Quinlan both gave evidence denying suggestions there had been a cover-up.
Mr Ryan, now deceased, told gardai that he had witnessed a “ferocious row” between Det Gda Quinlan and another guest, Gerard O’Connor, and that Mr Nugent may have tried to intervene, which the two witnesses denied.
Detective Garda Quinlan denied striking mr Nugent, or seeing anyone else strike the deceased, or pulling the body from outside into the reception area.
Garda Cummins told the court he heard a crash, and when he went to investigate he saw Mr Nugent on the ground. He said his car, which had been parked at the venue, was damaged and had been moved.
He later admitted under cross examination that a statement he had made to gardai at the time, telling gardai that he had moved his car to make room for an ambulance was an untrue statement. It later emerged his car was uninsured.
He denied allegations that he had gone to Mr Ryan’s house later that morning to plant forensic evidence on Ryan’s car.
Mr Ryan told the inquest into Mr Nugent’s death that, despite gardai telling him that his car had struck a person on the night, he said he believed in his “heart and soul” that his car did not collide with anyone.
However, he said he was “prepared to accept” forensics evidence had indicated his car had been involved in causing Mr Nugent’s injuries.
The inquest found Mr Nugent was struck by a person or person causing him to fall to the ground and that Mr Ryan’s car accidentally hit him.
Allegations that Mr Nugent’s death was not properly investigated were considered by independent review procedure in 2014, which recommended it be examined.
An inquiry into the garda handling of the case, which began in 2017, was completed in October 2020, however it has not been published thus-far on foot of advice from the office of the Attorney General to the Department of Justice.
Independent TD and barrister, Michael McNamara, who has campaigned for answers on behalf of the Nugent family, said the family has “waited long enough” for the report by retired District Court Judge Patrick Clyne.
The Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys has told deputy McNamara that Dept of Justice officials have invited the Nugent family to meet with them in person next week “to explain the next steps” in Judge Clyne’s report.
Speaking today, Deirdre Nugent, a sister-in-law of the deceased, said the family remains in limbo despite making repeated requests for access to the report which was completed 11 months ago.
“The whole point of the injury is that we would get the judge’s report. We would be hopeful that we would get the report, but we are not guaranteed that, we don’t know,” Ms Nugent said.
“I would imagine the report will be comprehensive, so it’s very hard to preempt what’s going to be in it. The years have rolled into one other, but whatever happens, the family is not going to give up on this, we need the truth, and we need justice.”
