Fresh appeal for information on 1971 murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan

Gardaí are conducting a cold case review of the murders of a man and a woman Co Meath in 1971.

On Thursday morning, investigators issued a fresh appeal for anyone with information of the death of Una Lynskey who disappeared on October 12th, 1971, to come forward. Her body was found two months later.

Several men were questioned about her death including Martin Kerrigan (19), who like Ms Lynskey lived in Ratoath, Co Meath.

A short time later, Mr Kerrigan was bundled into a car in Ratoath. The next day his body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin close to where Una Lynskey’s body was found.

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Three men, John Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were subsequently charged with Mr Kerrigan’s murder. They were later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years each.

In 1972, two other men, Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly, were convicted of Ms Lynskey’s manslaughter and also jailed for three years.

Mr Donnelly appealed this conviction and was found not guilty while Mr Conmey served his full sentence. In 2010, that conviction was successfully appealed and the conviction was declared a miscarriage of justice.

The men had said they were forced by gardaí to confess to the killing. Mr Conmey has since received a State apology. Last year Garda Commissioner Drew Harris wrote to him to also apologise.

Mr Harris has now directed the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), the Garda’s cold case squad, to carry out a full review of the investigations into the killings of Ms Lynskey and Mr Kerrigan. The review consists of the “independent examination of all material gathered in the course of all relevant current and part investigations.”

In a press conference held at Garda HQ on Thursday morning, Detective Superintendent Des McTiernan, head of the SCRT, said that the aim of the review was to provide “clarity” for the families involved in the cases.

The ultimate goal for An Garda Síochána is to determine who murdered Una Lynskey, Det Supt McTiernan said. The future course of the open investigation into Ms Lynskey’s murder would be determined by the findings of the Serious Crime Review.

Det Supt McTiernan said that at the time of the original investigation in 1971, the postmortem carried out on Ms Lynskey was inconclusive. Mr Kerrigan died from asphyxiation, he said. Both cases have always been treated as murder.

“You can’t review the murder Una Lynskey, and not review the murder of Martin Kerrigan, because unfortunately, one is linked to the other.

“To achieve the best possible outcome for all families involved – and this is what this is all about, the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Conmey and Donnelly families – we have to review all matters relevant to both events.”

He said that “out of respect” for the families involved, he could not comment on whether or not new information had prompted the serious crime review.

“I think that has to remain confidential between us and the families,” he said. “But essentially, all families, all stakeholders, have issues, have concerns, and require clarity on the events that happened back in 1971.

“Certainly [the review] has been prompted by concerns and issues that the families have on all sides.”

Det Supt McTiernan would not be drawn on whether he believed Mr Kerrigan’s death was motivated by “revenge”.

“I’m not going to comment on that, to be fair to John, James and John Gaughan, but it’s quite obvious in my mind the motivations that may have prevailed at the time, but it’s important for me to acknowledge that and to try and bring some sort of clarity for everybody.”

McTiernan reaffirmed that, as an organisation, An Garda Síochána were the best placed authority to carry out a review of both cases, despite criticisms of the original Garda investigation. “I don’t see a problem at all.”

He said he was “very conscious” that some members involved in the original investigation are still alive today. “I wouldn’t want them to think that this is a witch hunt. It’s not – it’s all about clarity and transparency.”

He added that he could not compel anyone to put themselves forward for interview as part of the review, but said that the SCRT will be “canvassing all that we can”.

The murders in 1971 devasted the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Donnelly and Conmey families, he said, and still have an impact on the community in Ratoath today.

“Martin Conmey and the families of Dick Donnelly and Martin Kerrigan have questions as to the Garda investigations that took place in 1971,” he added.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland on Thursday, Ann Donnelly, a sister of Martin Kerrigan and wife of Dick Donnelly, said that her family were “hopeful that after 52 years that the truth might finally come out, and that Una Lynskey’s murder would be solved”.

“The Donnelly and Kerrigan families are looking for an apology for Marty, and we also want an apology for Dick.

“Nothing will ever bring Marty back. But if we could get justice for Marty and for Dick, we would be very happy. For absolutely nothing he lost his life,” she added.

Asked whether the force would apologise to the families of Dick Donnelly and Martin Kerrigan, Det Supt McTiernan said that it was not his decision, but rather one for the Garda Commissioner.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to make contact with either the investigation team at Ashbourne Garda Station at 01 8010600, their local Garda Station or the Garda Confidential telephone line 1800 666 111.

“I do believe there are people – in particular in Ratoath – that have their own story to tell in relation to it. Maybe they didn’t get an opportunity to do it, back in 1971, for whatever reason,” Dept Supt McTiernan said.