Cold case review into murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan 52 years ago
Detective Superintendent Des McTiernan will lead the investigation into the murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan in 1971. Picture: Dan Linehan
Gardaí on Thursday launched a cold case review into two murders that took place in Co Meath more than 50 years ago.
The deaths of Una Lynskey, 19, and Martin Kerrigan, 20, in 1971 "still have an impact on the community in Ratoath", gardaí said.
Ms Lynskey was last seen alive in Ratoath in October 1971. Her body was found two months later in the Dublin Mountains.
A week after her body was found, Mr Kerrigan — who was among the men questioned by gardaí in relation to her case — was abducted and forcibly put into a car. His body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin, in the early hours of December 20, 1971.
Fifty-two years later, the Garda Commissioner has directed the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) to carry out a "full review" of the investigation into both murders.
Detective Superintendent Des McTiernan has been appointed as the reviewing officer. The SCRT will assist the local investigation team in reviewing this investigation.
Una Lynskey left her place of employment at the Office of the Land Commission at 24 Upper Merrion Street in Dublin.
She walked to Bus Áras and boarded a bus to Ratotah for her journey home.
She was travelling with her cousin and they both got off the bus close to the junction of Fairyhouse Road and Porterstown Lane. It is a rural location about 3km from Ratoath village.
They got off the bus at about 6.55pm.
The two girls spoke briefly before parting company. Una then walked towards Porterstown Lane and her home.
Gardaí say this was the last sighting of Una Lynskey alive.
By 7.25 pm that day, her family became concerned when Una had not arrived home and shortly after 9pm, her boyfriend reported Una as missing at Dunshaughlin Garda Station.
Over the coming days, searches were carried out in the area of Porterstown Lane by gardaí, supported by the Garda Dog Unit, Sub-Aqua Unit, Civil Defence, Army and local volunteers.
House-to-house inquiries and potential witnesses were also interviewed.
A number of witnesses had reported observing a vehicle described as a Ford Zodiac or Zephyr on Porterstown Lane around the time Una went missing.
A number of varying descriptions were provided of the vehicle and its driver by witnesses.
Martin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey were interviewed over a period of time at Trim Garda Station.
All three were released without charge at that time.
Human remains were found at Glendoo, close to Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains. The remains were identified as the body of Una Lynskey.
Martin Kerrigan was abducted in Ratoath and forcibly put into a car. His body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin, in the early hours of December 20.
It was close to where Una's body was recovered.
John Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were subsequently charged with murder and convicted of the manslaughter of Martin Kerrigan. They were each sentenced to three years imprisonment.
A Garda investigation file in relation to the murder of Una Lynskey was submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were charged with the murder of Una Lynskey.
Both were convicted of the manslaughter of Una Lynskey and were sentenced to three years.
Dick Donnelly appealed this conviction and was found not guilty.
Martin Conmey served a sentence of three years.
Mr Conmey's conviction was successfully appealed.
The Court of Appeal later ruled Martin Conmey's conviction for manslaughter as a miscarriage of Justice. He has since received a State apology.
Fifty-two years following the murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan, a "full review" has been directed by the Garda Commissioner.
Detective Superintendent McTiernan has been appointed as the reviewing officer and the SCRT is to assist the local investigation team.
A senior investigating officer from Meath Garda Division has also been appointed to oversee the team.
The investigation into the murder of Una Lynskey remains open, with the future course to be determined by the findings of the SCRT.
"Una Lynskey was 19 years old and was the fifth eldest of a family of 12. Martin Kerrigan was 20 years old and was the second youngest of a family of six," Detective Superintendent McTiernan said on Thursday.
"The family of Una Lynskey are seeking clarity on matters relevant to the murder of their sibling on the 12th of October 1971, 52 years ago.
"The subsequent prosecutions taken against Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey have had a significant impact on them and their families."
Superintendent McTiernan said Martin Conmey and the families of Dick Donnelly and Martin Kerrigan have questions in relation to the Garda investigations that happened in 1971.
"A ‘full review’ involves the ‘independent examination of all material gathered in the course of all relevant current and past investigations’.
"My intent is that this ‘full review’ will hopefully answer all questions highlighted by the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Donnelly and Conmey families and bring the events at the end of 1971 to some conclusion for all those involved.”
Detective Superintendent McTiernan appealed to the public for any information in relation to the murders.
"I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan to please come forward to either the investigation team at Ashbourne Garda Station at 01 801 0600, your local Garda station or the Garda Confidential telephone line 1800 666 111.
"I appeal to any person who has information on these murders not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision.”
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