On the 21st anniversary of her death, gardaí have made a fresh appeal for information that might help them close their file on the murder of art student Emer O'Loughlin.
The remains of the 23-year-old, a native of Ennistymon, were discovered in a caravan on lands at Ballybornagh near Tubber in Co Clare, on 8 April 2005.
A verdict of unlawful killing was recorded at an inquest into her death held in Kilrush in November last year.
Ms O'Loughlin was living in a mobile home with her boyfriend Shane Bowe, near Boston, Tubber, where the couple had hoped to build a house.
Before leaving for work, Mr Bowe - who has since died - advised her to call to a neighbour’s caravan to charge her phone, as there was a problem with the power supply to their mobile home.
It was in a caravan owned by John 'Fozzie’ Griffin, that Ms O’Loughlin's charred remains were discovered later that afternoon.
The caravan had been completely destroyed by fire and DNA analysis confirmed the remains as those of the Ennistymon woman.
On 19 May 2010, investigating gardaí exhumed her remains, which were removed to University Hospital Galway where forensic anthropology tests were conducted.
The tests indicated that Ms O'Loughlin had died a violent death, and as a result the investigation was upgraded to that of murder.
A garda statement today said: "This year is the 21st year since Emer’s death and her family are still struggling to come to terms with her loss and are asking for your assistance in order to bring them closure.
"If you believe you may be in a position to bring closure and get justice for them, gardaí would like to hear from you."
After the inquest in November, the O’Loughlin family appealed for information in relation to the whereabouts of Mr Griffin.
Gardaí interviewed Mr Griffin at the time of their initial investigation but he said he had stayed with a relative in Galway the night before Ms O'Loughlin’s death and knew nothing about the blaze at his mobile home.
The last confirmed sighting of him was in Inis Mór on Oileáin Árann. His clothes were found at the edge of the cliff there but, despite intensive searches, he has not been located and has never been reported as a missing person.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone they may have spoken to previously and "due to the passage of time" may feel better placed to assist with the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gort Garda Station on 091 636400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
