It was confirmed on Tuesday of this week that the high-level review of the Garda investigation into the death of Liam Farrell in Rooskey five years ago is completed and has been sent to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Mr Farrell’s family are now requesting a meeting with the Garda Commissioner once he has reviewed the report.
On Sunday, January 12th 2020, Liam Farrell was found dead at his home in Rooskey.
In September of last year, an inquest into the death of the late Mr Farrell at Carrick-on-Shannon Coroner’s Court returned an open verdict. Speaking following the verdict, the family’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer, clarified that an open verdict reflects the jury’s inability to determine the precise circumstances of Mr Farrell’s death.
Consultant pathologist Professor Paul Hartel conducted the post-mortem and concluded that Mr Farrell died from a heart attack linked to severe coronary heart disease. However, Professor Hartel later revealed he was not informed that Mr Farrell had been discovered under suspicious circumstances or that a crime scene had been established. He stated that had he been made aware, he would have declined to perform the autopsy, as such cases require a forensic pathologist.
The Farrell family appointed former State pathologist for Northern Ireland, Professor Jack Crane, to review the autopsy. He was critical of the initial autopsy report and said that he was of the view that Mr Farrell’s injuries were consistent with an assault.
On Friday, December 13th, a senior investigating officer within An Garda Síochana who was appointed by the Garda Commissioner to conduct a peer review of the original investigation met with the Farrell family.
On Tuesday of this week, it was announced that the review of the Garda investigation into the death of Liam Farrell was completed and had been sent to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who ordered it last September.
The family of the late Mr Farrell, who was 87 at the time of his death five years ago, believes he was attacked, but no one has ever been charged.
Speaking to the Roscommon People this week, son of the late Liam Farrell, Brendan Farrell, said that the family’s solicitor wrote to the Garda Commissioner on Tuesday requesting a meeting.
“We’re looking for an urgent meeting,” Brendan said.
Mr Farrell added that the family still believe a full new investigation is warranted based on the outcome of the Coroner’s inquest: “We made a lot of submissions during the peer review.”
He concluded his remarks by acknowledging the Garda Commissioner had only received the peer review report but that once he has been able to review it, the family would expect a meeting to be forthcoming.
