Dad had skull fracture... we want him to be exhumed for a postmortem

Family of Liam, 87, believe he was attacked before he died at home

- BY JOHN KIERANS

A FAMILY want the body of their 87-year-old father exhumed - so they can prove he was attacked before he died.

But for the remains of Liam Farrell to be dug up it will need the permission of Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.

The elderly man was found dead in suspicious circumstances outside his house in Rooskey, Co Leitrim, in January 2020.

A postmortem said he died of a heart attack yet he had bruises and marks on his body.

Gardai investigated the controversial case but no one has ever been arrested or charged.

It turned out the pathologist had not been informed the body had been taken from a potential crime scene.

If he had of known that he would not have carried out the postmortem, and it should have been carried out by a forensic pathologist.

An inquest subsequently returned an open verdict after hearing the medical evidence.

But Mr Farrell's five heartbroken children now want a meeting with the Justice Minister so they can get the go-ahead to exhume his body.