Ireland Case No. 5074Death investigation (manslaughter) · Co. Clare · 11 Feb 1984
Patrick Nugent: body to be exhumed as gardaí reopen 1984 death investigation
Patrick Nugent, 23, died in February 1984 after a violent and unexplained incident near Bunratty Castle, Co Clare. Gardaí have opened a new criminal investigation and his remains are being exhumed.
- Reported24 Sep
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPatrick Nugent was aged 23 when he died while working as banqueting manager at a party in Bunratty Castle in 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBy around 4am, about a dozen people remained when they heard noises from a courtyard and found Nugent with crush injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPatrick Nugent was 23 years old when he died (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPatrick died as a result of injuries sustained during the incident (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPatrick Nugent, 23, from Sixmilebridge, died in February 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNugent was struck by one car and possibly crushed against a second parked vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe remains of a man killed in violent, and unsolved, circumstances in Co Clare were due to be exhumed. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMr Nugent's remains were to be exhumed from a family grave in Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- wherePatrick was working as Banquet Manager in Bunratty Folk Park, Bunratty, County Clare (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred in the car park of The Barn (irishmirror.ie)
- whereNugent died at Bunratty Castle in Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereNugent was found lying on the ground in a car park at the adjacent Bunratty Folk Park. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe remains were due to be exhumed on a Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenAbout 60 guests attended the party in Bunratty on the night. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred at around 4am on February 11, 1984 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident happened at around 4am in the car park of The Barn function room. (irishtimes.com)
- whenNugent died in the early hours of 11 February 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- causePatrick Nugent died of crush injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- causeAn inquest found Nugent had severe internal abdominal injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA postmortem found Nugent's fatal injuries were crush injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- causeEvidence from the time suggests Nugent was struck by a person or persons unknown and then hit by a vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe exhumation is part of a renewed Garda investigation into Nugent's death. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered a fresh investigation into matters raised by retired judge Patrick Clyne. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIn 2022 the Garda Commissioner directed a fresh investigation into the circumstances of Patrick's death (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn investigation team from the Clare Garda division was established at Shannon Garda Station, supported by the Serious Crime Review Team from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe original scene at The Barn was re-examined by a Forensic Collision Investigator (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPatrick's remains are being exhumed on Tuesday morning (24 September 2024) for a new State post-mortem (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationForensic Anthropologist Dr Laureen Buckley will assist with the exhumation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDr Hedi Okkers, Assistant State Pathologist, will carry out a formal State Post Mortem (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe new investigation team is interviewing witnesses who attended the party (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInspector David Finnerty made a fresh public appeal for information from party attendees and anyone with knowledge of the events (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGarda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered a fresh investigation after a report by retired judge Patrick Clyne. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí carried out an exhumation of Nugent's remains at Feenagh burial ground. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationForensic anthropologist Dr Laureen Buckley is assisting with the exhumation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAssistant State Pathologist Dr Hedi Okkers is to carry out a postmortem. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigators are interviewing witnesses who attended the party. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThere are around 100 witnesses to the party. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe remains of Nugent are being exhumed. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí have opened a fresh investigation into the case. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn inquest jury in 1985 found Nugent died accidentally. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí also investigated the case as a manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda cold case review was conducted before the new criminal investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeWilliam Ryan was charged with Nugent's manslaughter but was later acquitted. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeWilliam Ryan was charged in 1985 with Nugent's manslaughter and dangerous driving. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeWilliam Ryan was charged with Nugent's manslaughter and with dangerous driving causing death. (irishtimes.com)
- courtIt emerged in court that Ryan gave three different statements to gardaí about that night. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA male was charged in connection with Patrick's death but was acquitted and cleared of all criminal charges (irishmirror.ie)
- courtWilliam Ryan was later acquitted and has since died. (irishtimes.com)
- courtWilliam Ryan was later acquitted. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe family believe Nugent was murdered and that his killing was covered up. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe family said nobody had been brought to justice despite many investigations and reviews. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo other person has been charged in relation to Nugent's death. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRyan, who is now dead, gave three different statements to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Sep2024Patrick Nugent: What happened that night, do gardaí know something new and why are they exhuming a body?
Feature on the reopened investigation and planned exhumation of Patrick Nugent's remains. Adds background on the 1985 inquest and the earlier manslaughter and dangerous driving charges, for which William Ryan was acquitted.
victim, Patrick Nugent, 23, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Nugentaccused, William Ryan, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Ryan - 24 Sep2024Patrick Nugent death: Gardaí interviewing guests and staff at Bunratty party 40 years ago
Covers a 1984 death reinvestigated after a Garda Commissioner-ordered review: exhumation, postmortem, and witness interviews. William Ryan was charged in 1985 with manslaughter and dangerous driving, later acquitted and since deceased; no other person has been charged.
victim, Patrick Nugent, 23, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Nugentaccused, William Ryan, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Ryan - 24 Sep2024Gardai appeal to people who attended party on night of Patrick Nugent's death
Reports the exhumation of Patrick Nugent's remains on 24 September 2024 for a new State post-mortem, and a fresh Gardaí appeal to party attendees and witnesses 40 years after his death at Bunratty Folk Park.
victim, Patrick Nugent, 23, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Nugentsuspect, male - 23 Sep2024Remains of Co Clare man killed in 1984 to be exhumed
The article reports the planned exhumation of Patrick Nugent's remains as part of a fresh Garda inquiry following a report by retired judge Patrick Clyne. It adds that William Ryan was earlier charged with manslaughter and later acquitted.
victim, Patrick Nugent, 23, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick Nugentaccused, William Ryan, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Ryan