Jeremiah Duggan: suspicious death abroad

18th July 2006

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Frances Swaine and her team at Leigh Day & Co act for Mrs Erica Duggan in connection with the death of her son Jeremiah (Jerry) Duggan near Wiesbaden, Germany on 27 March 2003.  Before his death, Jerry had been attending a conference organised by the youth wing of the controversial right-wing LaRouche movement.  In the hours preceding his death, he had made several telephone calls to his family indicating that he believed that his life was in danger.

UK inquest

An English inquest was held into Jerry’s death on 4th and 6th November 2003 where the Coroner reached a narrative verdict that he ‘received fatal injuries when he ran into the road and was hit by two private motor cars.  He had earlier been in a state of terror.’

Mrs Duggan approached us following the inquest as she had grave doubts as to the authenticity of the investigation in Germany, upon which the British Inquest’s conclusion was based.  The German authorities concluded that Jerry committed suicide by running into the path of a motor car, and was subsequently run over by a second car.  Despite repeated requests from Mrs Duggan, the German authorities have taken no further action.

New evidence

New evidence from an independent forensic photographer obtained by Mrs Duggan following the Inquest contradicts the German findings.  Whilst an initial examination of the scene does point to a road traffic accident where a young man died tragically, on closer forensic analysis, there are a number of points which do not fit this scenario.  There are no traces of skin, hair, blood or clothing on either vehicle, nor is there any blood, tissue or clothing debris on the road.  There are no tyre marks or other signs on either Jerry or on the cars, to indicate that either vehicle came into contact with the body.  It is possible that Jerry lost his life elsewhere, prior to being placed at the scene.

The final resting place of both cars, one parked neatly behind the other following impact at around 80-90 KPH indicates that the cars are likely to have been moved prior to forensic examination, thus compromising the integrity of the forensic investigation by the German authorities.

Call for a new inquest

This evidence strongly supports Mrs Duggan’s case for a new inquest.  We believe that this case merits a fresh inquest with a full and frank inquiry into this suspicious death.  We are therefore asking the Attorney General to use his power to quash the original Inquisition and order a new Inquest.

If you have any further queries, please contact us.