Body of Liam Farrell to be Exhumed as Gardaí Reopen 2020 Death Investigation
Gardaí are set to exhume the body of Liam Farrell, a retired farmer from Rooskey, County Leitrim, as part of a renewed investigation into his death in January 2020. The move comes after years of campaigning by the Farrell family, who have consistently questioned the initial ruling of death by natural causes.
Justice Minister Authorizes Exhumation
The Department of Justice confirmed that Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has authorized the exhumation of Mr. Farrell’s remains. The order to permit the exhumation was issued in recent weeks, according to RTÉ’s Prime Time.
Serious Crime Review Team Investigating
The exhumation will be carried out with the assistance of the Garda Serious Crime Review Team. State Pathologist Professor Linda Mulligan is expected to conduct a new post-mortem examination. This review was established following a review into how gardaí initially handled Mr. Farrell’s death, initiated by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly last October RTÉ.
Initial Investigation and Family Concerns
When Mr. Farrell’s body was discovered outside his home in Rooskey, gardaí initially concluded there was no foul play and attributed his death to a heart attack. However, the Farrell family has long maintained that a third party was involved and have actively lobbied for the case to be reopened. The Leitrim Observer reports the family never accepted the initial findings.
Recent Developments
Following a special report on the case by Prime Time last September, the Farrell family met with Minister O’Callaghan. Shortly after, the Garda Commissioner informed them that the Serious Crime Review Team would begin a review of the case. Gardaí have described the investigation as “active and ongoing” RTÉ. The review team has reportedly interviewed several individuals in the Rooskey area in recent months.
The Farrell family declined to comment on the latest developments regarding the exhumation of their father’s remains.
Developments in the Liam Farrell case are to be covered on the Thursday 5 March edition of Prime Time, on RTÉ One television and RTÉ Player.