Body of Liam Farrell exhumed for new post-mortem

Gardaí have exhumed the body of Leitrim man Liam Farrell as part of a renewed investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death in January 2020.

Mr Farrell's remains are being taken from Cloonmorris Cemetary in Bornacoola, Co Leitrim to Dublin for a forensic post-mortem examination.

The remains were exhumed following an order granted by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan.

Since the 87-year-old retired farmer died on 12 January 2020, his family have searched for answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.

An inquest into the death of Mr Farrell returned an open verdict .

A review into the original investigation was established by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly last October.

The Garda Commissioner appointed the Serious Crime Review Team led by Detective Chief Superintendent Des McTiernan, who begun an investigation.

Det Chief Supt McTiernan said the exhumation is an attempt to address the case forensically in order to get clarity on the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Farrell.

"The exhumation is being performed by members of the Garda Technical Bureau with the assistance of the relevant funeral undertakers," he said.

"Professor Linda Mulligan, Chief State Pathologist is also present, in addition to a Senior Environmental Health Officer from the HSE."
He said all necessary protocols governing an exhumation process have been implemented and will continue to remain in force until the exhumation concludes.

"Members of Liam Farrell's family are also present including his five children," he said.

A son of Mr Farrell, Brendan Farrell, told RTÉ News that if the next few days provides further insight into their father's death, they will see that as "a very positive step".

"If it gives a better insight into what happened to our father that weekend, we will see that certainly as a very positive step in the right direction in what is a live investigation now that the Serious crime Review Team are carrying out," he said.

"We are most thankful to the Serious Crimes Review Team for their ongoing work in this live investigation into our father’s death."
He said that as one could imagine, it is a very difficult time for the Farrell family.

He also remarked that there was a lost opportunity when his father did not receive "a proper forensic examination" when he was found on 12 January 2020.

Mr Farrell lived alone and as was his routine, he went to two pubs in his local village on the night of Saturday, 11 January 2020.

He was covered in blood, had bruising to his left eye and his feet, his shoes and socks had been removed and his watch was broken.

Mr Farrell was subsequently pronounced dead that evening after he had been removed by ambulance to hospital.

When gardaí arrived at the house, they sealed it off, a cordon was put up and a forensic team gathered evidence.

At the time, gardaí submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

No prosecution was directed.

A post-mortem examination concluded Mr Farrell died as a result of a heart attack.

The pathologist who conducted the autopsy told the inquest into Mr Farrell's death that had he known that the body had been taken from a scene that was suspicious, he would have refused to conduct the examination and insisted a forensic pathologist be drafted in to conduct more detailed evidence-gathering.

That initial post-mortem examination was later reviewed by State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan, who said that the "pattern of injuries on the face and hands" raised some concerns and that the bruises on Mr Farrell's hands and fingers may have been defence injuries.

She outlined two possible scenarios.

In one, Mr Farrell experienced a heart attack during which he fell and injured himself.

In the other, the injuries were sustained as a result of an assault.

She added that the injuries were not inconsistent with either option.

Members of the Farrell family never accepted that Mr Farrell died solely due to a heart attack and suspect a third party was involved in his death.

Brendan Farrell reappealed for information ahead of the exhumation of his father's body
Following the inquest into Mr Farrell's death in September 2024, former garda commissioner Drew Harris appointed a senior investigating officer to carry out a peer review of the original investigation.

Following that review, and a subsequent special report on RTÉ's Prime Time programme on the case last September, the Farrell family met with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan.

A short time later, Commissioner Kelly informed them that the Serious Crime Review Team would re-examine the case.

Det Chief Supt McTiernan said his team have also carried out interviews with people in the south Leitrim village.

"We've begun interviewing witnesses in the Rooskey area, and those people who were interviewed originally at the time of the original garda investigation," he said.

"He indicated that the Serious Crimes Review Team, won't be keen to release the results of the postmortem examination for operational reason."
He added, however, that the postmortem results will influence that decision.

Det Chief Supt McTiernan emphasised the importance of getting clarity on the details of the case.

He spoke of Mr Farrell as someone who was a beloved and popular figure in his community.

"Despite his 87 years, Liam Farrell was a fit man at 6'2'' tall.

On the night of 11th January 2020, he was wearing a dark suit, with a light blue shirt and dark wine-coloured tie.

"Again, I am appealing to anyone who was socialising in Reynolds Pub or the Weir Lodge on the night of 11th of January 2020 and recall seeing Liam Farrell there.

"I am, in particular, appealing to any person who may have any information regarding the case to come forward and assist in our efforts to get clarity on the events of 12th January 2020 and the subsequent discovery of Liam Farrell by his son and daughter."
"It's very important for me to appeal to people to come forward with that information, even if they think that information isn’t important.

I would appeal to them to let us decide that.

"The community in Rooskey have been brilliant.

They have been very supportive of us," he said.

Three sons of the late Liam Farrell, Peter, Brendan and Willie Farrell who spoke to RTÉ News at Cloonmorris Cemetary in Bornacoola this morning said it was a tough time for their family.