Mon Sep 23 17:43:54 UTC 2024: ## Remains of Man Killed at Bunratty Castle Exhumed in Renewed Investigation
**Bunratty, Co. Clare** – Forty years after his death, the remains of Patrick Nugent have been exhumed as part of a renewed Garda investigation into his violent and unsolved killing. Nugent, who was 23 at the time, died of crush injuries while working as banqueting manager at a party in Bunratty Castle in 1984.
Nugent’s family, from Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, have long believed he was murdered and that his death was covered up. Their campaign for justice has finally led to this exhumation, undertaken in a bid to establish the exact cause of death and the extent of Nugent’s injuries.
The exhumation follows a fresh Garda inquiry, initiated after a report by retired District Court judge Patrick Clyne, commissioned by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, raised serious concerns about the original investigation.
John and Martin Nugent, the deceased man’s brothers, have welcomed this development, despite the emotional toll it takes on the family. They hope the examination of their brother’s remains will lead to a breakthrough in the case.
“It’s really very poignant for us as a family to experience the disinterment of our brother’s remains,” said John and Martin Nugent in a statement. “We accept that it’s for the best if the results can shed some additional light on what we already know.”
The family’s solicitor, Kevin Winters, is hopeful that this investigation, unlike previous ones, will bring justice to the Nugent family. “We have been through many investigative processes and reviews over the decades yet nobody has been brought to justice,” he said. He believes an examination of Nugent’s bones may challenge the narratives that have emerged around the case.
The incident at Bunratty Castle, where around 60 guests were present, remains shrouded in mystery. While William Ryan, a chef at Shannon Airport who was celebrating his wedding anniversary that night, was charged with manslaughter, he was acquitted. Ryan gave conflicting statements to the Gardaí about the events of that night.
The renewed investigation, which includes the exhumation of Nugent’s remains, gives the family hope for justice after 40 years of fighting for answers. The Gardaí are now tasked with piecing together the events of that fateful night in the hope of finally finding answers for the Nugent family and achieving justice for Patrick Nugent.
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