‘All they had in life was each other’ – gardaí in appeal to victim’s family
GARDAÍ investigating the discovery of the skeletal remains of Stephen Corrigan in Rathmines are confident that he died where he was found, but they have not yet fully established the cause of his death.
The investigation into his death will continue while gardaí try to trace relatives of the troubled man who was reported missing in November, 2011.
If nobody comes forward then plans will be made to bury him in Glasnevin Cemetery with his mother Anna – who died in 2015 having never found him – and her half-brother Edward, who died in 2015, .
Only months before she died, Anna Corrigan had given gardaí a DNA sample which was kept on record.
It was this sample that led to the bones, which were found at grounds of the Lissenfield apartment complex on April 9, being positively identified as those of Stephen.
Anna was born in 1963 and would be 57 now. Edward was born in 1959 and died after an illness.
“We are appealing for any relatives of Stephen to come forward so they can be part of his funeral arrangements, but so far we have not been able to find living relatives,” said Detective Sergeant David Wogan of Rathmines garda station.
“It seems that all Stephen and his mother and her brother had in life was each other, and we are hoping to find someone who might like the opportunity to say their goodbyes to Stephen,” he added.
The skeletal remains are believed to have lain undisturbed under a row of trees that had branches down to the ground on the perimeter of the complex’s car park.
“The lower branches were cut off the trees last December, and in a follow-up clearing operation to get rid of undergrowth in April the bones were found,” said Det Sgt Wogan.
There did not appear to be any effort to bury the remains and no clothing was found in the area.
Gardaí believe Mr Corrigan died around the time he went missing in November, 2011.
Stephen had been in the care of the Weir Home on Cork Street, a residence where nursing and psychiatric care was provided for men at the time.
He suffered from mental health issues, had a tendency to withdraw from society and was known to live on the streets of the capital.
Any member of the family or anyone who has information about family members is asked to contact Rathmines garda station on (01) 666 6700 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.