The Dublin City Coroner has said he will be referring the Brian Murphy case back to the Director of Public Prosecutions after State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy testified today that his death was due to head injuries.
Dr Cassidy told an inquest that her findings did not contradict those of Professor John Harbison following Mr Murphy's death outside Club Anabel in Dublin nearly seven years ago.
The coroner's court heard that the DPP did not go ahead with a manslaughter retrial in the case.
It followed a report by Dr Cassidy, which found that Mr Murphy's injuries were relatively minor and that death could have resulted from alcohol-induced breathing difficulties.
But today Ms Cassidy stated that the primary cause of death was head injuries.
She said she had not been allowed to see Prof Harbison's report at the time. He had been unavailable to give evidence because of illness.
She added that, hearing it for the first time today, a reference to a neck injury raised another possible contributory cause of death.
Dr Cassidy said she had never disagreed with Prof Harbison's finding that head injuries were the primary cause of death.
But she said it is a complicated case and that a huge question mark remains over the pathway.
Remy Farrell, who is the Murphy family's barrister, said a huge cloud hung over the family with the suggestion that Brian's death had been self-induced through alcohol.
Ms Cassidy said complications can arise even with very small amounts of drink, and that toxicology reports showed the deceased only had a 'few pints'.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he was referring the case back to the DPP as head injuries is agreed as the cause of death.
The case will be mentioned again on 2 July.
