Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has requested that the Serious Crime Review Team look at the investigation into the death of Liam Farrell, according to a letter seen by RTÉ News.
The Co Leitrim farmer was found dead in suspicious circumstances at his home over five years ago.
Commissioner Kelly wrote to the Farrell family yesterday to let them know about the cold case review.
In the letter, he told the family that "the Detective Chief Superintendent with responsibility for the Serious Crime Review Team will consider the concerns you have raised and will make contact with you in the coming weeks to advise you of the plan for the review".
Mr Farrell, who was 87 and who lived alone in Rooskey, was found by his daughter slumped at the back door of his home on 13 Sunday January 2020.
He was covered in blood, his shoes and socks were removed and his watch was broken. Mr Farrell also had bruising to his left eye and feet.
Watch: Prime Time's Fran McNulty details concerns about the death of Liam Farrell
Gardaí sealed off the scene and forensic investigators gathered evidence. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but no prosecution was directed.
A post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Farrell died from a heart attack.
An inquest returned an open verdict last September.
Professor Paul Hartel, who conducted the post-mortem, told the inquest that he was not informed of a potential crime scene.
He added that, had he known this, he would have refused to carry out the examination and insisted that a forensic pathologist be drafted in to conduct more detailed evidence gathering.
Mr Farrell's son, Brendan, welcomed the news that a garda cold case team will review his father's case, saying it is a "positive step in the right direction".
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"We welcome the news that the incoming commissioner Mr Justin Kelly has organised that the serious cold case team take over our father’s investigation.
"We feel it is a very positive step in the right direction.
"We’re coming up on six years since we found dad at the rear of his home in a horrific state, and there’s too many questions gone unanswered over the last six years.
"We have to find out what happened our father.
"We miss him terribly, and if this were to happen to me he’d do what we are doing to find out what happened and that’s what we’re hoping the cold case team will be able to do."
Mr Farrell went on to urge anyone who might have information "no matter how big or how small" to come forward with it, saying "it’s never too late to do the right thing".
He said the family’s recent meeting with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan was "so important" and that he felt they were listened to.
"He had a lot of research done, he did say that he couldn’t instruct the commissioner on what to do, but he said he would talk to him about the case and he’s clearly done that and we appreciate his help very much and everyone else who’s helped us along this far."
He thanked everyone around the country who has helped them, but in particular those in the village of Rooskey who he said also want justice for his father.
