Gardaí investigating the death of a 23-year-old man in Co Clare 40 years ago have said they are hopeful the exhumation of his remains will shed new light on the circumstances surrounding his death.
Patrick Nugent died following an incident in Bunratty Folk Park and a man was subsequently acquitted of his manslaughter.
No one else was ever charged in connection with Mr Nugent's death.
The appeal for information follows a fresh investigation into his death in February 1984.
Mr Nugent's remains were exhumed as part of the renewed inquiry and a post-mortem examination will be carried out State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers.
Inspector Dave Finnerty has asked that anyone with any information that might assist the inquiry come forward.
Speaking at Shannon Garda Station, Insp Finnerty said the Nugent family deserved answers and closure about Patrick's death.
He said the inquiry was particularly focused on guests who attended a function at The Barn in Bunratty on the night of 10 February 1984.
Mr Nugent, who was from Sixmilebridge, was the banquet manager at a 40th wedding anniversary party for William and Chrissy Ryan in Bunratty in 1984. The event was attended by around 60 guests, including two off-duty gardaí.
Mr Nugent was found with serious injuries in the yard outside the venue at 4am on 11 February, shortly after he went out to help the party host to bring gifts to his car.
In 1985, Mr Ryan, who was head chef with Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, was charged with the manslaughter of Mr Nugent and with dangerous driving, but acquitted. Mr Ryan is now deceased.
Mr Nugent's family have always believed that he died violently amid allegations it was not investigated adequately and there was a cover up.
The inquest into his death found that he had severe internal abdominal injuries consistent with being crushed, or inflicted while he was in a crouched or squatting position.
The inquest also heard from a staff member who said Mr Nugent's dying words to him were that he had been assaulted, or that a man had "clocked him".
The witness at the inquest was absolutely certain they were the words Mr Nugent had spoken.
However, despite a garda investigation, an inquest, and a judge-led inquiry completed in 2020, nobody has ever been convicted in connection with Mr Nugent's death.
Gardaí initiated a cold case review two years ago and as part of that, his remains will be examined by forensic anthropologists to see if it alters or provides new leads in the investigation into his death.
Gardaí are in the process of interviewing surviving witnesses who attended the party at the Bunratty Folk Park, however, Inspector Finnerty would not be drawn on the number of interviews scheduled, citing operational matters.
The exhumation follow a direction from the Garda Commissioner that a fresh inquiry be opened.
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Inspector Finnerty said the original scene had been re-examined by technical experts and that it was hoped advances in investigation techniques would progress matters.
The exhumation from the Nugent family plot is being overseen by forensic anthropologist Dr Laureen Buckley.
Inspector Finnerty said: "There may still be persons, who have information on Patrick's death, either at the time or subsequently, and who haven't yet spoken to gardaí, or may have spoken to gardaí but were not in a position to tell everything that they know; I am appealing to those persons, 40 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team.
"I would urge person(s) with information in relation to the death of Patrick Nugent to contact the Incident Room at Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900, the Garda confidential number 1800 666 111 or any member of An Garda Síochána at any garda station.
"I finally appeal to any person who may have information relative to Patrick's death not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision. I cannot reiterate that enough."
Mr Nugent's brothers, John and Martin, have welcomed the move hoping it can shed new light on what has been a long and tortuous legal process to get justice for their brother.
The decision to exhume their brother's remains was a difficult one, and one they faced with some reluctance, but they accept that it is for the best if it can shed any additional light on what they already know, or hopefully provide some sort of breakthrough.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, John Nugent said that the family have confidence in the operation after gardaí met with them and said "they want to get answers for us, for themselves and the wider community".
"All we want to know is what happened outside that led to Pat falling to the ground," John Nugent said.
The family are represented by Belfast-based human rights lawyers KRW Law, and solicitor Kevin Winters said that a key part of the work of this team of exhumation experts will be tests undertaken on the bones of the deceased, to see if it changes what they already know.
Mr Winters said they hope this historic investigative milestone, will pave the way for a renewed investigative strategy. He said that what happened that night has never been resolved and that no one has ever been held to account after four decades, is a travesty of justice.
Additional reporting Cathy Halloran, John Cooke
