By Jonathan McCambridge, PA
The family of a man who died in unexplained circumstances 40 years ago in Co Clare have said his body is to be exhumed as part of a new investigation.
Patrick Nugent, 23, died in the early hours of February 11th, 1984 after he was found lying on the ground in a car park at Bunratty Folk Park.
He had been working as a banquet manager at a party in the tourist spot the previous evening.
The family of Mr Nugent believe he was killed, but nobody has ever been convicted over his death.
A cold case inquiry was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in 2022.
Mr Nugent’s brothers John and Martin said his body would be exhumed on Tuesday in Co Clare as part of a new Gardai probe in the case.
They 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.”
They added: “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 organising this exhumation.
“Having agreed to go through with it we are all quietly hopeful that we might just get a breakthrough.”
Family solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law said the family had been through a “difficult and lengthy legal odyssey to get to this point”.
He added: “At times it’s been nothing short of tortuous.
“They have displayed remarkable patience with the legal and investigative system.
“What happened on that fateful night has never been resolved. That no one has ever been held to account after four decades remains a travesty of justice.”
Mr Winters added: “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.”
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