Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has said he will meet with the family of Liam Farrell to discuss their concerns about the investigation into the death of the elderly Leitrim farmer.
This afternoon in the Dáil, Sinn Féin Deputy Martin Kenny asked Minister O’Callaghan if he would meet with the Farrell family and if he would ensure if there "would be a proper investigation" into the case.
Deputy Kenny told the Dáil that the situation that a recent Prime Time programme exposed "was a very lacklustre investigation by An Garda Síochána".
"Anyone who saw it was shocked as to what transpired," Deputy Kenny said.
Minister O’Callaghan said he was aware of the case and saw the recent Prime Time documentary about Liam Farell’s death.
"I’ve discussed it with the former [garda] commissioner and the current Commissioner. Rather than giving a narrative here, I am happy to meet with them [the Farrell family]".
Earlier today, Brendan Farrell and his wife Bernie met with political representatives at Leinster House to discuss their concerns about the original investigation.
Liam Farrell, aged 87, walked home along the N4 road in the village of Rooskey after an evening socialising locally on 11 January 2020.
The following day Mr Farrell’s body was found outside his back door. He was badly bruised, partially undressed and lying on his back.
Gardaí sealed off the scene and forensic investigators gathered evidence. A file was sent to the DPP, but no prosecution was directed.
An inquest last September returned an open verdict. A post-mortem examination concluded Liam Farrell died from a heart attack.
Pathologist Professor Paul Hartel who conducted the post-mortem examination told Mr Farrell's inquest last September that he was not informed of a potential crime scene.
Prof Hartel added - had he known this that he would’ve refused to carry out the autopsy and insisted a forensic pathologist be drafted in to conduct more detailed evidence-gathering.
'Pattern of injuries'
That initial post-mortem 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 Liam Farrell’s hands and fingers may be defence injuries.
She outlined two possible scenarios. In one, Liam 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.
Dr Mulligan told Mr Farrell’s inquest that, on balance, her office favoured the first scenario. But Dr Mulligan’s report noted "the involvement of another party cannot be ruled out based on the original autopsy report and the photographs provided".
Mr Farrell’s family remain convinced that there is more to their father’s death, citing his injuries, bloodied items and his missing wallet.
The Farrell family sought other expert opinions. They asked a former state pathologist for Northern Ireland, Prof Jack Crane to review the autopsy file ahead of the inquest last September.
'Confronted by an intruder'
Prof Crane believes that Liam Farrell was "confronted by an intruder outside his home" and had "clearly been assaulted by being struck a number of times on the face, possibly causing him to fall to the ground".
The members of the Farrell family Prime Time spoke to recently feel strongly that their father was attacked and robbed. They believe the missing wallet is an indication of that.
After a request from the Farrell’s, then Garda Commissioner Drew Harris directed that a peer review of the case be carried out.
In a previous statement to Prime Time, an Garda Síochána said that recommendations from the review are being "actioned".
The statement continued that "a peer review is not a re-opening or a re-start of any criminal investigation".
'Full and proper investigation'
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Justice Matt Carthy also met with family members of Liam Farrell today. He said they deserve to get answers in relation to what happened to their father.
"The family of Liam Farrell deserve a full and proper investigation into the death of their father.
"They are very unsatisfied with the garda investigation that took place in that there appears to have been a complete failure to take into account the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death including the injuries which Mr Farrell had sustained."
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Garda peer review under way into death of Leitrim farmer
