BACKGROUND

Liam Farrell was found dead outside the back door of his home in Rooskey, Co Leitrim, on January 12th,2020. He had been socialising in his local pub, The Weir Lodge in Rooskey, the previous night as confirmed by proprietor, Mr Frank Moran.

His badly injured and bloodied body had sustained multiple blunt force trauma injuries, suggesting that he died as a result of a deadly assault by a third party (or parties).

Indeed Dr Linda Mulligan, State Forensic Pathologist stated in her report and evidence to the inquest that “..… the involvement of another party in this case cannot be ruled out …". Professor Jack Crane, former State Pathologist for Northern Ireland went even further by definitively stating in his report into Liams death that “…The injuries sustained by Mr. Farrell in my opinion are the result of an assault…”.

However, despite the appearance of the scene, the responding Gardai did not seem to seriously consider foul play and therefore:

• The preservation, examination, analysis, and management of the scene were inadequately managed.

• A forensic pathologist was not briefed or deployed to conduct the autopsy and a non forensic hospital pathologist, Dr Paul Hartel was allowed to perform the autopsy unaware that the body came from a crime scene.

• The decision to no longer designate the scene as a crime scene by Garda Superintendent, Kevin English would appear to have been made with apparent haste within 24 hours of the discovery of Liams body. He confirmed with the family later that week that his decision was based on a number of factors including his observance of the scene, the preliminary results of the autopsy performed (by Dr Hartel) and discussions with the crimes of scene unit thereby leading him to decide no foul play was involved and that no further investigation was warranted.

  The jury in the official inquest in September 2024 (regrettably delayed for almost five years) disagreed with the Gardai's position and it delivered an open verdict, meaning they believed there was not enough evidence to support the cause of death being a natural consequence.

The family continues to pursue justice for their father, and some six years later, they demand answers to questions relating to the investigation and the circumstances of his tragic death. Further to those aims, they believe that an exhumation of Liam’s remains is necessary so that a full forensic pathology can be performed on the body as should have been done at the time of death.

Click here for QUESTIONS