The remains of Patrick Nugent will be exhumed as part of a new Garda investigation.
The Legal firm representing the Nugent family, KRW Law Human Rights Lawyers, has confirmed that the body of the Sixmilebridge native who died in February 1984 at the age of 23 from injuries sustained after a function in Bunratty Castle, will be exhumed as part of “renewed Gardai investigation into the controversial circumstances surrounding his death”.
Speaking on the development, Patrick’s brothers John and Martin say “it’s really very poignant for us as a family to experience the disinterment of our brothers remains especially given the proximity of the grave to our family home”.
The brothers have also said that “having agreed to go through with it, we are all quietly hopeful that we might just get a breakthrough”.
Family solicitor Kevin Winters says “the Nugent family have been through a difficult and lengthy legal odyssey to get to this point” and that “in many ways we hope this historic investigative milestone will pave the way for a renewed investigative strategy”.
Full statement to Clare FM from KRW Law on behalf of the Nugent family:
“We act on behalf of the family of Clare man Patrick Nugent who died in February 1984 from injuries sustained after a function in Bunratty Castle. 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.”
“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.”
Speaking on the significance of the exhumation the brothers John and Martin of the deceased said
“After 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 have been proactive in their oversight and have kept us included at all stages of the investigation. That is especially the case with the exhumation of Patrick. Our decision to agree to this unusual and unique step wasn’t taken lightly. It’s really very poignant for us as a family to experience the disinterment of our brothers remains especially given the proximity of the grave to our family home. We accept that it’s for the best if the results can shed some additional light on what we already know. We have worked very closely with Gardai and our solicitors on the complicated logistics involved in organizing this exhumation. Having agreed to go through with it we are all quietly hopeful that we might just get a breakthrough.”
The family solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW LAW Human Rights lawyers added
“The Nugent family have been through a difficult and lengthy legal odyssey to get to this point. At times it’s been nothing short of tortuous. 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.
We’ve engaged with Gardai on both the sensitive logistics of the exhumation and it’s likely outworkings. We understand starting from early in the morning there will be a team of forensic experts tasked with examination of the remains. A key area will be the tests undertaken on bones to see if those results might alter hitherto settled narratives on the case. 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.
