Gardaí say two murders over 50 years ago have devastated four families and continue to impact on the community in Co Meath.
Una Lynskey, 19, went missing while walking home after she got off a bus in Ratoath and was murdered on this day 52 years ago on 12 October 1971.
Three local men, Martin Conmey, Dick Donnelly and Martin Kerrigan, were questioned by gardaí about Ms Lynskey's murder and all three protested innocence.
Two months after she disappeared, Ms Lynskey’s body was found on 10 December in the Wicklow mountains.
Nine days later, Mr Kerrigan was abducted and murdered.
Ms Lynskey's brothers John and James Lynskey and her cousin John Gaughan were convicted of Mr Kerrigan's manslaughter. Each were sentenced to three years in prison.
Mr Conmey and Mr Donnelly said they were forced to sign confessions and both were convicted of manslaughter of Ms Lynskey.
However, Mr Donnelly had his case overturned, while Mr Conmey spent three years in prison before he was acquitted and his case declared a miscarriage of Justice.
Gardaí denied any abuse in custody, but last year Garda Commissioner Drew Harris wrote to Mr Conmey and apologised for the pain and loss he had experienced.
The murder of Ms Lynskey remains unsolved while the Kerrigan family say there remains a cloud over the memory of Martin because he was wrongly accused of murder.
Marty Kerrigan's sister, Ann Donnelly, told @KieranDineen why she welcomes this review and Michael Clifford @Mickcliff spoke to @lawlor_aine about the background to it
— Morning Ireland (@morningireland) October 12, 2023
Listen here ⬇️ https://t.co/1jtrrXNPu0
Gardaí said today they still believe there are people alive with information about the murders.
The head of the Garda's Serious Crime Review Team said all the families have concerns and require clarity.
Detective Superintendent Des McTiernan said the cold case unit has drawn up 18 terms of reference as part of its investigation into these concerns and overall review of the murders.
He said it is clear there is a link between the murder of Ms Lynskey and the subsequent murder by asphyxia of Mr Kerrigan.
The detective would not say if the actions of the gardaí, and whether those actions contributed to the murder of Mr Kerrigan, were being investigated but he said "it is an issue".
The detective said they will be interviewing everyone involved in the investigations, including witnesses, those who made statements and some of the gardaí who are still alive.
Detective Superintendent McTiernan said gardaí believe people in Ratoath have their own story to tell.
He said up to ten cars were identified on Porterstown Lane on the night Ms Lynskey disappeared, including a Ford Zephyr or Zodiac.
He also appealed for anyone with information to come forward and speak to gardaí.
"People’s loyalties change, they reflect on things, it’s 52 years on, I want to do right by the families involved," Detective Superintendent McTiernan said.
He also said the review team were liaising with the families and that they would be kept updated.
Commissioner Harris directed the Serious Crime Review Team to review the cases.
