Ireland Case No. 1896Murder · Co. Clare · 8 Apr 2005
Gardaí renew appeal in Emer O'Loughlin murder investigation in Clare
On 8 April 2005, a mobile home at Ballybornagh, Tubber, Co Clare was destroyed by fire and the badly burned remains of 23-year-old art student Emer O'Loughlin were found inside. In May 2010, gardaí exhumed her remains and forensic tests at University Hospital Galway indicated a violent death, upgrading the investigation to murder. John Griffin, 57, formerly of Mervue, Galway City, who owned the mobile home, went missing ten days after the fire and was last confirmed seen on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands, where his clothing was later found on a cliff top in what gardaí believe was a staged suicide. An inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in November 2025, and no one has been charged. On 8 April 2026, gardaí renewed their appeal for information on the 21st anniversary, seeking to trace Griffin, whom they believe is still alive.
- Reported8 Apr
4 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A mobile home was destroyed by fire and the badly burned remains of 23-year-old art student Emer O'Loughlin were found inside.
- Where
- The mobile home was at Ballybornagh, Tubber, Co Clare, where O'Loughlin lived with her boyfriend Shane Bowe.
- When
- The fire and discovery of remains occurred on 8 April 2005.
- Cause
- Forensic anthropology tests at University Hospital Galway indicated O'Loughlin had died a violent death.
- Investigation
- Gardaí exhumed O'Loughlin's remains on 19 May 2010 and the investigation was upgraded to murder following the forensic findings.
- John Griffin, 57, formerly of Mervue, Galway City, who owned the mobile home, went missing ten days after the fire and was last confirmed seen on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands.
- Griffin's clothing was found on a cliff top on Inis Mór, which gardaí believe was staged to suggest suicide, and they believe he was assisted in leaving the island.
- An Interpol Blue Notice was issued for Griffin after the agency mistakenly published a Red Notice.
- On 8 April 2026, gardaí renewed their appeal for information on the 21st anniversary, seeking to trace Griffin, whom they believe is still alive.
- In court
- An inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in November 2025.
- Other details
- No one has been charged in connection with the murder.
80 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe human remains found inside were later identified as Emer’s. (clareecho.ie, gript.ie)
- whatGriffin has been described as a drifter likely to be living a transient life. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEmer O'Loughlin was an artist and college student who was living in a caravan with her boyfriend while they saved for a house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe mobile home had been destroyed by fire. (irishtimes.com)
- whatForensic tests indicated O'Loughlin had died a violent death. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe investigation was upgraded to murder as a result of the forensic findings. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEmer O'Loughlin was a 23-year-old art student (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe mobile home was destroyed by a fire on 8 April 2005 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHer badly burned remains were discovered inside the mobile home (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe forensic tests indicated she died a violent death (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe investigation was upgraded to that of murder (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEmer O’Loughlin was murdered in Tubber, Co Clare. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe mobile home was at Ballybornagh, Tubber, where Emer O’Loughlin lived with her boyfriend. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe killing took place in Ballybornagh, Tubber, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGriffin was spotted going to Inis Mór in the Aran islands, off the west coast of Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whereJohn Griffin is formerly of the Mervue area of Galway city. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHer remains were found in a mobile home at Ballybornagh, Tubber, Co Clare. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe exhumed remains were removed to University Hospital Galway for forensic anthropology tests. (irishtimes.com)
- whereShe lived in a mobile home in Ballybornagh, Clare (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHer remains were removed to University Hospital Galway for forensic anthropology tests (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGriffin's last confirmed sighting was on Inis Mór. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Ballybornagh, Tubber, Co. Clare. (gript.ie)
- whenHuman remains were discovered in a mobile home on 8 April 2005. (clareecho.ie, gript.ie)
- whenHer remains were discovered on 8 April 2005. (thejournal.ie)
- whenOn 19 May 2010, investigating gardaí exhumed O'Loughlin's remains. (irishtimes.com)
- whenInvestigating Gardaí exhumed her remains on 19 May 2010 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHuman remains were discovered in a mobile home on April 8, 2005. (clareecho.ie)
- causeForensic tests indicated Emer died a violent death, and the investigation was upgraded to murder. (clareecho.ie)
- causeThe mobile home had been completely destroyed by fire. (thejournal.ie, gript.ie)
- causeA fire had completely destroyed the mobile home. (clareecho.ie)
- causeForensic anthropology tests indicated that Emer had died a violent death, and the investigation was upgraded to murder. (gript.ie)
- investigationGardaí exhumed her remains on 19 May 2010. (clareecho.ie, gript.ie)
- investigationGardaí made a renewed appeal for information on the 20th anniversary of the death. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí want to interview John Griffin, formerly of Mervue, Galway City, and hope the public can help trace him. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe John Griffin may have information and want to interview him. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe Griffin is alive and was helped to leave Inis Mór when he disappeared. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí have never received a missing person report for John Griffin. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationAn Interpol Blue Notice relating to Galway man John Griffin was issued after the agency mistakenly published a Red Notice for him. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Red Notice effectively ordered Griffin's arrest for extradition to Ireland, even though gardaí were never in a position to request his extradition. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Red Notice was mistakenly published online by Interpol when the investigation was at a sensitive stage and moving quickly due to its upgrading to a murder inquiry. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGriffin went missing but was later tracked down to Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór where he was in a distressed and anxious state and engaged in a stand-off with gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAfter the stand-off, Griffin was taken for psychiatric treatment to a Galway hospital but left after a number of days. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGriffin returned to Inis Mór where some of his clothing was found, apparently suggesting he had taken his own life, but gardaí believe the scenario was staged and he had left the country. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThere have been several reported sightings of Griffin, though none confirmed, including disembarking a flight from London to Germany weeks after the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí believe Griffin is still alive and are hopeful people who knew him in Ireland or may have met him during the last 20 years will come forward. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said they had never received a missing persons report in respect of Griffin. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationExtensive searches were conducted along the coastline following the discovery of Griffin's clothing, with no remains found. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAnyone with information is asked to contact Gort Garda station on 091-636400. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHer death was initially treated as suspicious. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was upgraded to murder after a forensic re-examination of her remains in 2010. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí renewed their appeal for information on the 21st anniversary of the murder. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí are asking the public to contact Gort Garda station, the Garda Confidential Line, or any station with relevant information. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for information to bring closure to the family (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe public can contact Gort Garda Station on 091 636400 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem examination was carried out at Galway University Hospital. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí exhumed the remains on May 19, 2010. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationForensic tests indicated a violent death, and the investigation was upgraded to murder. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí are renewing their appeal for information. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe John Griffin is still alive and want to trace him. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí issued a fresh appeal for information on 8 April 2026. (gript.ie)
- investigationAnyone with information can contact Gort Garda Station, the Garda Confidential Line, or any Garda station. (gript.ie)
- courtLast year an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA jury at the inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing in November. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe mobile home belonged to John Griffin and had been completely destroyed by fire. (clareecho.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherJohn Griffin was last confirmed seen on Inis Mór in 2005. (clareecho.ie)
- otherJohn Griffin is described as 180cm tall, 57 years old, of slight build and bald on top, with an Egyptian Eye of Horus tattoo on his throat. (clareecho.ie)
- otherAnyone with information can contact Gort Garda Station. (clareecho.ie)
- otherJohn Griffin went missing 10 days after the fire at the mobile home. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe discovery of his clothes on a cliff top was believed to be an attempt to fake his own suicide. (irishtimes.com)
- otherInterpol later named Griffin on their most-wanted list. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe forensic tests indicated she had died a violent death, and the investigation was upgraded to murder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí believe Griffin may have information and are eager to interview him as part of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí have never received a missing-person report in respect of Griffin. (irishtimes.com)
- otherExtensive searches were conducted along the coastline after his clothing was discovered, but he has never been sighted. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe had been living nearby with her boyfriend at the time. (thejournal.ie)
- otherNo one has been brought to justice despite extensive investigations over two decades. (thejournal.ie)
- otherAnyone with information can contact Gort Garda Station on 091 636400. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHer family are still struggling to come to terms with her loss 21 years later (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGriffin's clothes were found at the edge of a cliff on Inis Mór. (clareecho.ie)
- otherGardaí say Griffin may have been assisted in leaving Inis Mór by another person. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Apr2026Renewed appeal in Emer O’Loughlin murder investigation - Gript
Gardaí issued a fresh appeal on 8 April 2026, the 21st anniversary of the death, and gave contact details for information.
victim, Emer O'Loughlin, 23, irish (judged from name)Emer O'Loughlin - 8 Apr202621 years on from murder of Ennistymon's Emer - Gardaí still anxious to speak to Fozzie Griffin - Clare Echo
Cold case appeal 21 years after the murder. A 2010 exhumation and forensic tests upgraded the case to murder, and a November inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing. No arrest or charge is reported. Griffin is sought for questioning and is not described as charged.
victim, Emer O'Loughlin, 23, irish (judged from name)Emer O'Loughlinsuspect, John 'Fozzie' Griffin, named, irish (judged from name)John 'Fozzie' Griffin - 8 Apr2026What happened to murder victim Emer O'Loughlin still haunts family 21 years on
21st anniversary appeal by Gardaí for information to bring closure to the family; no suspect identified in this article.
victim, Emer O'Loughlin, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Emer O'Loughlin - 7 Apr2026Appeal for information on Emer O’Loughlin, 21 years after murder
Renewed public appeal on the 21st anniversary of O'Loughlin's death; details the 2010 exhumation and forensic upgrade of the investigation to murder.
victim, 23, female, irish (judged from name) - 1 Apr202621 years on, gardaí renew appeal for information on the murder of Emer O’Loughlin
Renewed appeal for a 2005 cold case on the 21st anniversary. Adds the inquest verdict of unlawful killing from last year and the 2010 upgrade from suspicious death to murder. No arrest or charge is reported.
victim, Emer O'Loughlin, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Emer O'Loughlin - 8 Apr2025Police forces worldwide asked to share information on Emer O’Loughlin murder suspect
20th anniversary appeal; Interpol Blue Notice issued after mistaken Red Notice; details on Griffin's description, movements after the murder, and gardaí's belief he staged his own death on Inis Mór.
victim, 23, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, John Griffin, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Griffin - 8 Apr2025Gardaí renew appeal 20 years after murder of Emer O’Loughlin
Renewed public appeal on the 20th anniversary; provides additional details about Griffin's disappearance from Inis Mór, his physical description, the 2010 exhumation and forensic tests that upgraded the case to murder, and the belief that he was assisted by unknown persons in leaving the island.
victim, 23, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, John Griffin, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Griffin - 8 Apr2025Renewed appeal launched on 20th anniversary of Emer O'Loughlin's murder - Clare Echo
Adds the 20th-anniversary renewed appeal, the 2010 exhumation and forensic findings that upgraded the case to murder, Gardaí's belief that Griffin is alive and was helped to leave Inis Mór, the statement that no missing person report was ever received, and the Gort Garda Station contact number.
victim, Emer O'Loughlin, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Emer O'Loughlinsuspect, John Griffin, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Griffin