The body of a Co Clare chef, whose family believe was murdered and the crime covered up, is being exhumed this Tuesday, a solicitor for the family said.
Patrick Nugent, (23), from Feenagh, Sixmilebridge, County Clare, died mysteriously on February 11th, 1984, after he was found critically injured, near Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare.
The decision to exhume his body comes after a cold case Garda team reopened the original Garda investigation and made a fresh appeal for information last January.
For the past four decades there has been intense speculation about how the young banqueting manager died.
Mr Nugent had been overseeing a wedding anniversary party held at the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park for the then head chef of Aer Rianta, and local man William Ryan and his wife, Chrissie.
In the early hours of that morning, as the party was winding down, it is alleged Mr Nugent was in the venue’s car park along with Mr Ryan.
Two off duty Gardaí were also in attendance at the function.
As he lay dying on the ground around the reception area of the venue, Mr Nugent was reported to have repeated three times into a colleague’s ear “he clocked me” before he passed away.
Mr Nugent was laid to rest before it emerged that his injuries were consistent with being struck by a vehicle.
Mr Ryan was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted at a jury trial.
The Independent Review Mechanism, set up in 2014, recommended the case be further examined.
This led to an inquiry being undertaken by retired district court judge Patrick Clyne.
Mr Nugent’s family were given copies of Judge Clyne’s report but they have not been able to share it because they signed non disclosure agreements in respect of the report.
Martin Nugent, a brother of the deceased, said Patrick’s death “had a big impact on all of us, sure, but especially our parents”.
Their father, Joe Nugent, died October 20, 1999, aged 73, and their mother, Mary Ellen Nugent, died on December 22, 2003, aged 79.
Last January, Detective Inspector David Finnerty, Shannon Garda Station, said that 60 people attended the function in Bunratty on the night, with some still in attendance at 4am.
“There they found Patrick in a doorway which leads to the courtyard, he was injured, and in a distressed state,” said Det Garda Finnerty.
“Patrick received medical attention at the scene and was later transferred to Barrington’s Hospital in Limerick where, sadly, he was pronounced dead on arrival.”
Detective Inspector Finnerty said a post mortem examination conducted on Patrick Nugent’s body showed he had suffered “abdominal injuries which were consistent with crushing”.
Mr Nugent suffered a collapsed liver, internal bleeding, as well as lacerations to the lower lumbar spinal region.
Detective Inspector Finnerty said a cold case team had been operating out of Shannon Garda Station (061 365 900 (tel:061%20365%20900)) and appealed to anyone who attended the party, whether as a guest or staff member, or any members of these persons families, or people who may have photographs from the night.
Gardai have been utilising “all modern day investigative techniques and it is hoped, with advances in technology, that we can progress the investigation”, said Det Insp Finnerty.
A statement issued this Monday, September 23, by solicitors firm KRWLAW, acting for the Nugent family, read: “The family believe strongly that Patrick was killed and his murder covered up. They have been fighting over 40 years now for justice for Patrick. However no one has ever been convicted in connection with his killing.”
“As part of the renewed Gardai investigation into the controversial circumstances surrounding his death an exhumation will take place on Tuesday 24/9/24 at the family grave in County Clare,” continued the statement.
“The family have been through a criminal trial; the outworkings of a Gardai disciplinary process; an inquest; a section 42 Gardai Inquiry following a miscarriage of justice investigation by the IRM together with a renewed criminal investigation after the Attorney General reviewed the findings of District Judge Patrick Clyne.”
John and Martin Nugent, brothers of the deceased, said that despite having “some initial misgivings about the worthiness of any new investigation we want to put on record our appreciation of the work Gardai have undertaken over the last few years”.
They said their consent to the “unusual and unique step” of exhuming their brother’s remains “wasn’t taken lightly” and was “really very poignant for us”.
“We accept that it’s for the best if the results can shed some additional light on what we already know… Having agreed to go through with it we are all quietly hopeful that we might just get a breakthrough.”
The family’s solicitor Kevin Winters said the family had been through a “difficult”, “lengthy” and “torturous” legal odyssey to get to this point.
“They have displayed remarkable patience with the legal and investigative system. That includes having to reluctantly accept the confidentiality of Judge Clynes findings in order to preserve the integrity of this renewed investigation.”
“What happened on that fateful night has never been resolved. That no one has ever been held to account after 4 decades remains a travesty of justice,” Mr Winters added.
From early this Wednesday morning a team of forensic experts will begin exhuming Mr Nugent’s remains.
“A key area will be the tests undertaken on bones to see if those results might alter hitherto settled narratives on the case,” Mr Winter’s said.
“We hope those anthropological findings will provide new investigative leads for Gardai in all their follow up inquiries. In many ways we hope this historic investigative milestone will pave the way for a renewed investigative strategy. After all this time it’s the least the family can expect to achieve.”
