Minister James Browne welcomes publication of data on unidentified remains
Details relating to 44 unidentified people contained in the report
Samples will be gathered, where possible, from those remains where no sample was taken at the time of burial and FSI will attempt to extract DNA from these samples
Any DNA profiles obtained will be compared with samples held on Ireland’s National DNA Database
The Department of Justice today published, for the first time, information on unidentified human remains provided by Coroners around the country.
There are currently approximately 856 unsolved missing persons cases live on the Garda Pulse system. While the vast majority of missing persons cases are resolved quickly, many can remain unsolved for long periods of time.
The Department of Justice is acutely conscious of the impact that a person going missing has on their family, friends and loved ones, and is committed to doing everything possible to ensure families have the best chance of having these cases resolved.
Advancements in DNA profiling have led to case breakthroughs in recent years. The provision of a DNA profile to Forensic Science Ireland by family members of a missing person can assist in solving unidentified bodies and missing person cases.
With this in mind, in December 2022, Coroners were asked to return updated details of any unidentified remains for their coronial district as part of their annual statutory returns to the Minister for Justice. Minister McEntee committed to publishing this data once collated. Today, the Department of Justice is publishing the information returned by the Coroners, which may assist in the identification of the remains, for the first time.
The Department established a Forum in July 2021 alongside An Garda Síochána’s Missing Persons Unit and Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) to facilitate information exchange on unidentified remains. The Unidentified Remains database has been compiled following an analysis of Coroners records.
The data published today comprises 44 records. DNA profiles for 28 Unidentified Remains are on the National DNA Database. The Department of Justice intends to arrange for samples of the remaining 16 unidentified remains to be attained where possible, and FSI will attempt to extract DNA from these samples and upload DNA profiles to the National DNA Database. Given the complexities associated with historical remains, this process is expected to take some time to complete.
While the data being published today comprises the first full list of unidentified remains, additional cases may come to light. As a result the Department intends to publish updates to the unidentified remains data on an annual basis.
Commenting on the publication of the coronial returns Minister Browne said: “Today, as details of unidentified remains are published for the first time, we remember in particular the families and friends of missing people in Ireland and recognise the ongoing pain suffered and the lack of closure in the absence of the remains of their loved ones.
I know that the families of missing people have long called for the release of this information. We have listened to that request and I welcome the publication of that data today. It is important to say that this will not have been an easy task for coroners, given many of these files pre-date digitisation and would have required a physical trawl. I thank the coroners for their co-operation, and hope that the release of this information may assist in the identification and location of missing family members.
Importantly, there may be something contained in the information released today that triggers a memory or rings a bell with any one of us. If you or someone you know has any information that might assist in solving a missing person case, I would urge you to report it to An Garda Síochána. It’s never too late, and any information provided to An Garda Síochána may help those suffering the loss of their missing loved one to find some answers.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan, of An Garda Síochána said: “An Garda Síochána recognises the lasting sense of trauma for the families and friends of those who have gone missing. In 2018, An Garda Síochána commenced a substantial body of work in relation to unidentified human remains and this work continues to date.
An Garda Síochána are part of a working group which was established by the Department of Justice to explore the creation of an Unidentified Remains Database with representatives from the Department of Justice, Forensic Science Ireland and the State Pathologists Office.
Operation Runabay which was established in 2017 by the Missing Persons Unit, has a particular focus on advancing the investigation of cases involving unidentified persons discovered along the western coast of the United Kingdom. In recent years, the Missing Persons Unit has expanded this operation to include greater co-operation with the British National Crime Agency and other neighbouring jurisdictions, exchanging information related to missing persons and unidentified human remains both at home and in other jurisdictions.
As a member of the Maritime Missing Persons Expert Group, An Garda Síochána can circulate alerts to a number of countries enabling faster conveyance of information of unidentified remains.
An Garda Síochána and Forensic Science Ireland have worked in partnership over the past number of years to deliver a DNA testing facility for the families of missing persons. This service was available to the families of missing persons at the National Missing Persons Day ceremony in December 2022 and is available for any family of missing persons to engage with An Garda Síochána.”
Mr Chris Enright, Director of Forensic Science Ireland said: “Forensic Science Ireland continues to work closely with the Missing Persons Bureau of An Garda Síochána. In 2022 FSI assisted in 74 Missing Persons cases where DNA reference samples from family members were submitted to FSI for DNA profiling and uploaded to the National DNA Database. FSI assisted in the identification of 12 Missing Persons in 2022. Forensic Science Ireland remains committed to continuously developing the science and technology available in support of Missing Person investigations.”
Queries about the information contained in the data published, including the current location of any unidentified remains, should be directed to the relevant Coroner.
The datasheet on unidentified remains can be foundHERE.
Margaret O’Brien’s gorgeous journaling book ‘Weather Report’ encourages you to document the beautiful and positive experiences of daily life.
Margaret cleverly uses the Beaufort Wind Scale to track personal change each day, starting with the external weather, what time of day is it, what do we see, hear and experience.
She then brings your attention inward; what do we feel inside, where is that emotion in our body? We are invited to write or draw or doodle our experiences, then document one thing we’ve found beautiful today.
Margaret guides you through the joys of keeping a journal and discusses the pleasures and healing potential of writing.
Residents of Thurles will be aware that over the past few months it became necessary for the ESB to interrupt the electricity supply in most areas of the town. The reason for these electricity interruptions was Siro, the Irish fibre broadband network operator, which is expanding its network to Thurles, Nenagh and Tipperary Town in Co. Tipperary.
SIRO is a 100% ‘fibre-to-the-building’network, built on ESB infrastructure. With no copper connection at any point along the network, thus making it faster and more reliable.
Fibre Broadband arrives in Thurles. Pic: G. Willoughby.
SIRO was launched in 2015 as a joint venture between the ESB and Vodafone, with the aim of delivering the first 100% fibre-to-the-building broadband across regional Ireland thus revolutionising the broadband market in Ireland.
Fibre to the Home (FTTH) is an access network method that delivers the highest possible speed of Internet connection by using optical fibre that runs directly into the home, building or office. FTTH is unique, because it removes all the bottlenecks that slow the performance of other types of network. The SIRO Network is built using the ESB’s overhead and underground infrastructure, ensuring a fast, reliable and sustainable network.
SIRO claim that there is up to 60% lower energy usage and 80% lower maintenance required for fibre-to-the-building, versus copper networks.
The Co. Tipperary roll-out will bring fibre broadband to more than 7,000 premises in Thurles and Nenagh. The roll-out in Thurles will be completed in the last quarter of 2023, while the work in Nenagh will be completed soon afterwards.
The roll-out to 2,250 premises in Tipperary town will be completed early-2024. Once these additional towns are connected, Siro’s full-fibre broadband network will be available to more than 50,000 premises across County Tipperary.
The network operator has invested more than EUR 20 million to roll out its fibre network across the county to date.
Pre-deceased by her parents Ted and Nellie, brother Eamonn and her nephew Alan (Thurles); Ms Wall passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at St. Luke’s Hospital, Jamespark, Co. Kilkenny.
Her passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by her son Johnny, sister Eleanor (Lyons, Dublin Rd. Thurles) brother Lorcan, her adored grandchildren Fionn and Iarla, daughter-in-law Lisa, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Ms Wall, same can be viewed, streamed live online HERE.
The extended Wall family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Hundreds of events taking place across the country.
Thousands expected to turn out to meet local Gardaí, Government Ministers and Community Groups.
The National Rural Safety Forum has today announced plans for National Community Engagement Week 2023 – its biggest ever series of events – running from 22-26 May.
Previously run over the course of just one day, this expanded week-long series will see hundreds of events taking place in communities all across Ireland, giving people a chance to get to know their local Gardaí and other representatives in their areas.
Welcoming the launch, Minister for State at the Department of Justice, Mr James Browne TD said: “Everyone deserves to be safe and, just as importantly, to feel safe at home, at work, and just going about their daily lives. I’m proud to say that we live in a relatively safe country. We have robust laws and creative and practical initiatives in place to support Gardaí and local communities. National Community Engagement Week is a chance for people from all over the country to meet their local Gardaí and other brilliant people working and volunteering in community initiatives in their area. I look forward to meeting as many people as I can during the week.”
The National Rural Safety Forum is a national collaborative partnership between State agencies and other organisations with a common vision of ensuring people and communities in rural Ireland feel safe and are safe in their homes, places of work, and their local environments.
Each day of National Community Engagement week will be themed, covering different angles of rural living including:
Community Safety
Road & Pedestrian Safety
Burglary & Theft, Heritage Crime
Personal Safety & Wellbeing
Farmer & Rural Safety
Minister of State James Browne TD, added: “This is a particularly important event for rural communities. It is the first such event since the publication of the National Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024 and it is the first time that the event has spanned the course of a week. This should reassure people in rural Ireland that the safety of every community is an absolute priority for me, the Department of Justice, and our partners in the National Rural Safety Forum.”
IFA Deputy President and co-Chair of the National Rural Safety Forum, Mr Brian Rushe, said: “It is vitally important that communities works together to serve the best interests of people at risk and the National Rural Community Engagement Week is the perfect platform for this. IFA are very pleased to be working with An Garda Síochána and members of the National Rural Safety Forum on this great initiative and are urging all communities to come out to support this programme.”
Chaired by An Garda Síochána and the IFA, and supported by the Department of Justice, the Department of Rural & Community Development, Muintir na Tíre, AgriKids, and a range of State agencies and representative groups, the Forum’s focus on rural safety is laid out in the National Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024.
The purpose of the Forum is to develop a nationwide network for the distribution of crime prevention advice, increase engagement within communities and prevent and reduce opportunities for crime.
The series of events, organised by the Rural Safety Forum, is an opportunity for communities to get to know their local Gardaí and local community representatives. All are welcome and details of today’s events can be found on the Garda website HERE.
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