Ireland Case No. 7381Murder · Co. Meath · 12 Oct 1971
Garda full review of 1971 murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan in Co Meath
Gardaí are conducting a cold case review of the 1971 murders of Una Lynskey, a 19-year-old woman, and Martin Kerrigan, a man aged 19 or 20 depending on the report, both of whom lived in Ratoath, Co Meath. Una Lynskey was last seen alive at about 6.55pm on 12 October 1971 near Porterstown Lane, and her remains were found at Glendoo in the Dublin Mountains on 10 December 1971. Martin Kerrigan was bundled into a car in Ratoath on 19 December 1971 and his body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, early the next day. John Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were charged with Martin Kerrigan's murder and convicted of manslaughter, each sentenced to three years, while Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were charged with Una Lynskey's murder on 5 March 1972 and convicted of manslaughter and jailed for three years, with Donnelly's conviction later overturned on appeal and Conmey's declared a miscarriage of justice and followed by a State apology. On 12 October 2023 the Garda Commissioner directed the Serious Crime Review Team to carry out a full review, and gardaí issued a fresh appeal for information.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí are conducting a cold case review of the murders of a woman and a man in Co Meath in 1971.
- The victims were Una Lynskey, a 19-year-old woman, and Martin Kerrigan, a man reported as 20 in one source and 19 in others.
- Martin Kerrigan was bundled into a car in Ratoath on 19 December 1971.
- When
- Una Lynskey disappeared on 12 October 1971 after leaving work at 5.30pm, and she was last seen alive at about 6.55pm.
- Human remains were found at Glendoo, near Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains, on 10 December 1971, and were identified as Una Lynskey.
- Where
- Una Lynskey was last seen near the junction of the Fairyhouse Road and Porterstown Lane, about 3km from Ratoath village, after getting off a bus from Dublin with her cousin.
- Martin Kerrigan's body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin, in the early hours of 20 December 1971, close to where Una Lynskey's remains were found.
- Investigation
- Una Lynskey's boyfriend reported her missing at Dunshaughlin Garda station shortly after 9pm, and searches of the Porterstown Lane area followed over the coming days.
- Martin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey were interviewed at Trim Garda station on 25 October 1971 and released without charge.
- On 12 October 2023 the Garda Commissioner directed the Serious Crime Review Team to carry out a 'Full Review' of both investigations, and gardaí appealed for information to Ashbourne Garda Station.
- Cause
- Martin Kerrigan died from asphyxiation, and both deaths have always been treated as murder.
- Charges
- John Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were charged with Martin Kerrigan's murder and later convicted of manslaughter, each sentenced to three years.
- Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were charged with Una Lynskey's murder on 5 March 1972 and convicted of her manslaughter, each sentenced to three years.
- In court
- Dick Donnelly's conviction was overturned on appeal, and Martin Conmey's manslaughter conviction was declared a miscarriage of justice, with sources giving November 2010 and 2014 as the dates.
51 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí are conducting a cold case review of the murders of a man and a woman in Co Meath in 1971. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThis was the last sighting of Una Lynskey alive. (garda.ie)
- whatHuman remains were found at Glendoo, near Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains, on 10 December 1971. (garda.ie)
- whatThe remains found at Glendoo were identified as Una Lynskey. (garda.ie)
- whatMartin Kerrigan was abducted in Ratoath on 19 December 1971 and forced into a car. (garda.ie)
- whatMartin Kerrigan's body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, in the early hours of 20 December 1971, close to where Una Lynskey's body was recovered. (garda.ie)
- whatUna Lynskey was murdered on 12 October 1971. (garda.ie)
- whatMartin Kerrigan was abducted in Ratoath on 19 December 1971 and forcibly put into a car. (garda.ie)
- whereMartin Kerrigan was bundled into a car in Ratoath. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMartin Kerrigan's body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin, close to where Una Lynskey's body was found. (irishtimes.com)
- whereUna Lynskey took a bus to Ratoath. (garda.ie)
- whereUna was last seen near the junction of the Fairyhouse Road and Porterstown Lane, about 3km from Ratoath village. (garda.ie)
- whereUna Lynskey boarded a bus to Ratoath on her journey home. (garda.ie)
- whereUna Lynskey and her cousin got off the bus close to the junction of the Fairyhouse Road and Porterstown Lane. (garda.ie)
- whereHuman remains were found at Glendoo, close to Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains, on 10 December 1971. (garda.ie)
- whereMartin Kerrigan's body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin, in the early hours of 20 December 1971. (garda.ie)
- whenUna Lynskey disappeared on 12 October 1971. (irishtimes.com)
- whenUna Lynskey left work at 5.30pm on 12 October 1971. (garda.ie)
- whenUna's boyfriend reported her missing at Dunshaughlin Garda station shortly after 9pm. (garda.ie)
- whenUna Lynskey was last seen alive at about 6.55pm on 12 October 1971. (garda.ie)
- causeMartin Kerrigan died from asphyxiation. (irishtimes.com)
- causeBoth cases have always been treated as murder. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Commissioner Drew Harris directed the Serious Crime Review Team to carry out a full review of the investigations into both killings. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact the investigation team at Ashbourne Garda Station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSearches of the Porterstown Lane area were carried out over the following days with dog, sub aqua, Civil Defence, Army and volunteer support. (garda.ie)
- investigationWitnesses reported seeing a Ford Zodiac or Zephyr on Porterstown Lane around the time Una went missing. (garda.ie)
- investigationMartin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey were interviewed at Trim Garda station on 25 October 1971. (garda.ie)
- investigationAll three men interviewed on 25 October 1971 were released without charge at that time. (garda.ie)
- investigationUna Lynskey was reported missing at Dunshaughlin Garda station shortly after 9pm. (garda.ie)
- investigationSearches were conducted in the Porterstown Lane area over the following days. (garda.ie)
- investigationWitnesses reported seeing a Ford Zodiac or Zephyr on Porterstown Lane around the time Una Lynskey went missing. (garda.ie)
- investigationMartin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey were interviewed at Trim Garda station on 25 October 1971 and released without charge. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe Garda Commissioner has directed the Serious Crime Review Team to carry out a 'Full Review' of the investigation into the murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan. (garda.ie)
- chargeJohn Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were charged with Martin Kerrigan's murder. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeJohn Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were charged with murder. (garda.ie)
- chargeMartin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were charged with the murder of Una Lynskey on 5 March 1972. (garda.ie)
- chargeJohn Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were charged with murder and convicted of the manslaughter of Martin Kerrigan. (garda.ie)
- courtIn 1972, Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were convicted of Una Lynskey's manslaughter and jailed for three years. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJohn Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were convicted of manslaughter of Martin Kerrigan. (garda.ie)
- courtMartin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were convicted of manslaughter of Una Lynskey. (garda.ie)
- courtDick Donnelly appealed his conviction and was found not guilty. (garda.ie)
- courtDick Donnelly's conviction was appealed and he was found not guilty. (garda.ie)
- courtMartin Conmey's manslaughter conviction was successfully appealed in November 2010. (garda.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal ruled in 2014 that Martin Conmey's manslaughter conviction was a miscarriage of justice, and he has since received a state apology. (garda.ie)
- sentenceJohn Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years each. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJohn Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were each sentenced to three years imprisonment. (garda.ie)
- sentenceMartin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. (garda.ie)
- sentenceMartin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were convicted of the manslaughter of Una Lynskey and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. (garda.ie)
- otherDick Donnelly's conviction was overturned on appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMartin Conmey's conviction was declared a miscarriage of justice in 2010. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMartin Conmey has received a State apology. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Oct2023An Garda Síochána Public Appeal for Information and Media Briefing 12th October 2023, Serious Crime Review of Murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan
Garda press release announcing a Serious Crime Review of the 1971 murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan, with background on the 1971 investigation, prosecutions and appeals, and an appeal for information.
victim, Una Lynskey, 19, female, irish (judged from name)Una Lynskeyvictim, Martin Kerrigan, 20, irish (judged from name)Martin Kerriganconvicted, John Lynskey, named, irish (judged from name)John Lynskeyconvicted, James Lynskey, named, irish (judged from name)James Lynskeyconvicted, John Gaughan, named, irish (judged from name)John Gaughanconvicted, Martin Conmey, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Conmeyconvicted, Dick Donnelly, named, irish (judged from name)Dick Donnelly - 12 Oct2023Appeal for Information and Media Briefing 12th October 2023, Serious Crime Review of Murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan
Garda media briefing and appeal on 12 October 2023 announcing a full review of the 1971 murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan, with historical details of the investigations, charges, convictions and appeals.
victim, Una Lynskey, 19, female, irish (judged from name)Una Lynskeyvictim, Martin Kerrigan, 20, irish (judged from name)Martin Kerriganconvicted, John Lynskey, named, irish (judged from name)John Lynskeyconvicted, James Lynskey, named, irish (judged from name)James Lynskeyconvicted, John Gaughan, named, irish (judged from name)John Gaughanconvicted, Martin Conmey, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Conmeyconvicted, Dick Donnelly, named, irish (judged from name)Dick Donnelly - 12 Oct2023Fresh appeal for information on 1971 murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan
Covers a 1971 cold case review rather than a new arrest or charge. Adds the review's scope, the appeal for information, the 1971 convictions and their later overturning, and the State apology to Martin Conmey.
victim, Una Lynskey, 19, female, irish (judged from name)Una Lynskeyvictim, Martin Kerrigan, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Martin Kerriganconvicted, John Lynskey, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Lynskeyconvicted, James Lynskey, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Lynskeyconvicted, John Gaughan, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Gaughanconvicted, Martin Conmey, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Conmeyconvicted, Dick Donnelly, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dick Donnelly