The grieving sister of a young Irish art student who was brutally murdered 20 years ago has revealed for the first time the grotesque and chilling details of the killing – as she makes an emotional plea for justice.
Pam O’Loughlin says her ‘gentle and free-spirited’ sister, Emer O’Loughlin, was decapitated and had her ribs broken before her body was discovered in a blazing caravan in County Clare in April 2005 – facts that were kept from the family for nearly two decades.
Now, on the 20th anniversary of Emer’s murder, her family is demanding answers – and calling for a fresh investigation into what they claim was a deeply flawed police probe that allowed the chief suspect to vanish and evade justice.
‘Emer was decapitated and she had her ribs broken by her murderer. How she died was brutal. She must have suffered terribly,’ Pam told the Belfast Telegraph.
Emer, just 23, had been living with her boyfriend in a caravan on his family’s land in Ballybornagh near Tubber, Co Clare, with dreams of building a home and pursuing her passion for art.
On the morning of April 8, 2005, she reportedly went to a neighbour’s caravan to charge her phone but never returned.
That neighbour was John Griffin, who has been the chief suspect ever since and who disappeared shortly after Emer’s body was found in the burnt-out shell of his caravan.
Griffin, also known by the nickname ‘Fozzie’, has been on the run for 20 years, and is currently on Interpol‘s most-wanted list.
A post-mortem examination at the time did not indicate a cause of death. But following pressure from Ms O’Loughlin’s family, in 2010 her remains were exhumed and a re-examination found she died violently before the fire. Pictured, Ms O’Loughlin
Ms O’Loughlin, 23, had been living in a neighbouring caravan with her boyfriend Shane Bowe in Ballybornagh, Co. Clare. It is believed she visited Mr Griffin’s (pictured) home to charge her mobile phone following an electrical problem at her own residence
Initially, investigators were unable to determine how Emer had died. Her remains were so badly burned that even her gender was uncertain.
It wasn’t until a second post-mortem – following her exhumation in 2010 – that experts revealed she had died before the fire.
Yet, chillingly, her family say they were only told the true extent of her injuries four months ago.
She had been decapitated and her ribs crushed – injuries inflicted by a sharp weapon, according to forensic anthropologists.
‘I only found out about these injuries four months ago. This is always a difficult time of year. But this anniversary has been the toughest. It feels different.’
John Griffin, the man Gardaí believe may hold vital information, vanished shortly after Emer’s death.
Days later, he was spotted at the ancient cliff fort of Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór, threatening to throw himself off the edge while throwing rocks at anyone who came near.
Gardaí in riot gear were flown in, and lifeboats were deployed below the cliffs. He was talked down and taken to a psychiatric hospital but just five days later, he shaved his dreadlocks and beard, signed himself out, and disappeared again.
Griffin’s clothes were found at the same cliff, sparking suspicions he had faked his death.
Despite intensive searches, he has never been found. Investigators believe he fled Ireland with assistance, and he was reportedly traced to a drug rehab centre in Scotland but had vanished by the time Gardaí caught up.
Pam has now spoken out to say the original investigation was riddled with errors – and is calling for an independent inquiry into the case.
‘We’ve been entirely let down by the garda investigation. John Griffin was able to get away. That should not have been allowed to happen.’
Mr Griffin, 56, from Galway city, was placed on Interpol ‘s most wanted list in connection with the killing. But the chief suspect attempted to fake his suicide before fleeing Ireland. Despite extensive searches, gardaí have never found him. Pictured, Ms O’Loughlin
The suspect had a tattoo in the throat area, described as an Egyptian ‘eye of Horus’, pictured
Emer O’Loughlin’s mutilated and charred body was discovered in John Griffin’s burnt-out mobile home on April 8, 2005. Pictured, Emer O’Loughlin
Pam says she still doesn’t know how thoroughly gardaí questioned him before his disappearance. ‘She died in his caravan. It was Interpol who released Griffin’s image, not the gardaí. Why wasn’t her death treated with more suspicion from the start?’
A knife was reportedly found in a stove in the caravan – a chilling detail that Pam says was known early on, but seemingly not taken seriously.
Despite early questions around Griffin, gardaí did not circulate his photo until long after he vanished – and even then, Pam says, they bungled basic facts.
‘They got his tattoos wrong when they eventually released his description. Why were there so many mistakes?’
Pam believes Griffin could be living off-grid in Europe, under the radar.
Pam runs a ‘Justice for Emer O’Loughlin’ Facebook page, where she receives tip-offs every year from people who think they’ve seen Griffin. Each one is passed on to the authorities.
‘Our family, we all cope in different way. It’s taken its toll on us all. Our lives, jobs, relationships. The truth is I’ve allowed this to take over my life. But I’ll keep pushing for leads. It’s all encompassing.’
A spokesman for the gardaí responded: ‘An Garda Síochána does not comment on remarks by third parties. An Garda Síochána continues to be available to and engage with the family of Emer O’Loughlin.
‘The murder remains a live and ongoing investigation under the direction of a senior investigating officer. An Garda Síochána continues to follow up on information received and all lines of inquiry in relation to the case.
‘Just this week, An Garda Síochána issued a renewed appeal to the public for information in relation to this investigation… In particular, investigating gardaí are requesting public assistance with efforts to trace John Griffin, formerly of the Mervue area of Galway city. Gardaí believe that John Griffin may have information that will assist them and are eager to interview him.’
