Body of man killed in 1984 in Clare to be exhumed

The body of Patrick Nugent, who died in 1984 in unexplained circumstances at Bunratty Folk Park in Co Clare, is to be exhumed tomorrow as part of a renewed garda investigation into his death.

His remains will be exhumed tomorrow morning at the family grave in Co Clare.

Mr Nugent, who was 23 at the time of his death, was working as a banquet manager at Bunratty Folk Park at an event to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of William and Chrissie Ryan on the night of 10 February 1984.

William Ryan was well-known in the area and held a prominent position as Head Chef for Aer Rianta in Shannon Airport.

Shortly after 4am after the event had concluded, Mr Nugent was found lying on the ground with serious injuries from which he later died.

No one has ever been convicted in connection with his killing.

The family of Mr Nugent strongly believe that he was killed and his murder was covered up.

They held a meeting with the Department of Justice in 2021 to discuss the case.

In the 40 years since his death they have been through a criminal trial, an inquest, the outworkings of a garda disciplinary process and a Section 42 Garda Inquiry following a miscarriage of justice investigation.

Speaking following the confirmation of Mr Nugent's exhumation, Patrick’s brothers John and Martin said said they were appreciative of the work gardaí have undertaken over the last few years.

"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 brother’s 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 said he understands that there will be a team of forensic experts tasked with the examination of the remains starting early tomorrow morning.

"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."

An episode of Crimecall which aired on RTÉ in January 2024 looked into the death of Patrick Nugent and the subsequent investigation.