BREAKING: Body of Leitrim man to be exhumed as new post mortem is planned

Gardaí are planning to exhume the body of Leitrim man Liam Farrell as part of their renewed investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death in January 2020, according to a report from RTÉ.

The Department of Justice has confirmed to RTÉ's Prime Time that Minister Jim O'Callaghan has authorised the exhumation of Mr Farrell's remains.

It is believed the Minister issued an order to permit the exhumation in recent weeks.

The exhumation is to be carried out with the Garda Serious Crime Review Team examining the death of the retired farmer.

It was confirmed in recent months that a cold case review was under way into the death of the Leitrim pensioner. 

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Mr Farrell, who was 87, was found deceased at the rear of his home near Rooskey on January 12, 2020. The circumstances surrounding his death have remained a source of deep concern and unanswered questions for his family ever since.

Six years on, relatives say the launch of a formal cold case review has brought renewed hope that the full circumstances of what happened that night will finally be established.

The review will involve a re-examination of material gathered during the original investigation, including witness accounts and decisions taken in the immediate aftermath of Mr Farrell’s death. Gardaí have confirmed the case is being assessed under updated cold case procedures.

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