Ireland Gardaí seek information on 2005 murder of Emer O'Loughlin, Galway-Clare border
Emer O'Loughlin, a 23-year-old woman, was murdered on 8 April 2005 in a caravan at a park on the Galway-Clare border. The caravan belonged to John Griffin, a neighbour from Mervue in Galway, and gardaí believe he faked his death and fled the country after clothes were found on a cliff on Inis Mór. A sighting of Griffin in Morocco in 2019 was reported, and gardaí believe he is hiding under an alias. No arrest or charge has been reported, and on 8 April 2024, 19 years after the killing, the family's appeal for information was ongoing and a previously unreleased photo of Griffin was shared.
- Reported8 Apr
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Emer O'Loughlin, a 23-year-old woman, was murdered.
- Where
- The murder took place in a caravan at a park on the Galway-Clare border.
- When
- Emer O'Loughlin was murdered on 8 April 2005.
- Cause
- A post-mortem found that she died of severe head and back injuries before the fire.
- Other details
- Her body was found in a caravan owned by John Griffin, a neighbour, and her boyfriend had received a call that the neighbour's caravan was on fire.
- John Griffin, a man, is originally from Mervue in Galway.
- The family says gardaí incorrectly described Griffin's tattoo as Celtic, while another description places an Eye of Horus tattoo on his Adam's apple.
- Investigation
- Gardaí have been seeking John Griffin since the killing and believe he is hiding under an alias, somewhere in Europe.
- Gardaí believe Griffin faked his death and fled the country after clothes were found on a cliff on Inis Mór.
- A sighting of Griffin in Morocco in 2019 was reported.
- The family's appeal for information about the suspect is ongoing, and their Facebook page 'Justice for Emer O'Loughlin' calls for witnesses.
- On 8 April 2024, the family shared a previously unreleased photo of Griffin.
- Charges
- No arrest or charge has been reported.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim was 23 years old. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whereThe murder took place in a caravan at a park on the Galway-Clare border. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whenEmer O'Loughlin was murdered on 8 April 2005. (galwaybeo.ie)
- causeA post-mortem found that Emer had died of severe head and back injuries before the fire. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí have been hunting John Griffin since the killing. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationThe family's appeal for information about the suspect is ongoing. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationThe family's Facebook page shared a photo of John Griffin never seen before. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGriffin is believed to have faked his death and fled the country after clothes were found on a cliff on Inis Mór. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe Griffin is hiding under an alias, with a recent sighting in Morocco in 2019. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherEmer's body was found in a caravan owned by John Griffin, who was a neighbour. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherOn 8 April 2005, Emer's boyfriend received a call that his neighbour's caravan was on fire. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe family says gardaí had incorrectly described Griffin's tattoo as Celtic. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherGriffin has an Eye of Horus tattoo on his Adam's apple. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherGriffin is believed to be hiding under an assumed name somewhere in Europe. (galwaybeo.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Apr2024Gardai chasing suspected Galway killer release 'last seen' photo as update given
Cold-case appeal, 19 years after the killing. Adds a previously unreleased photo of the suspect, a correction to the tattoo description given by gardaí, and reports that he is believed to be hiding abroad. No arrest or charge is reported.
victim, Emer O'Loughlin, 23, female, irish (judged from name)Emer O'Loughlinsuspect, John Griffin, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Griffin