'Daddy's on the ground. He's cold': Family of Leitrim man still looking for answers to death

A new investigation into the death of 87-year-old Leitrim farmer Liam Farrell was featured on RTE's Crimecall programme on Monday, March 30. The investigation was launched recently amid a family campaign for answers and after all other inquiries returned no concrete explanation as to how he died

Liam, from Rooskey, Co Leitrim, was found dead at the back door of his home around 3:30pm on January 12, 2020.

It's understood he died at some stage during the night previous.

Speaking on RTÉ's Crimecall last night, Liam's son, Brendan Farrell, said his loved ones are still searching for answers six years later.

"Daddy was taken away from us, it's as simple as that... It's a massive, huge absence in our life," he said.

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On the night of January 11, Liam went to his local pub, Reynolds', which he did every Saturday. 

Around 10:30pm, he left that pub and went next door to The Weir Lodge, where he stayed until roughly 12:15am on January 12.

Liam then walked home, where he was discovered by his daughter later that afternoon.

When his body was found, it was covered in bruises "from head to toe," and his shoes and socks had been removed. 

Liam's daughter, who was "frantic," called Brendan to say, "Daddy's on the ground, he's cold." 

An ambulance was called, but Liam was pronounced dead a short time after. 

Brendan said that he didn't even recognise the man on the ground as his dad because of how extensive the injuries were. 

As well as the bruising, there was blood found at multiple locations around the house, including on the front gate, gable, and at the rear of the house.

"I can still hear the ambulance. I can still see the injuries," Brendan shared.

A coroner's inquest at the time returned an open verdict on Liam's death, and in 2024, a jury at Carrick-on-Shannon delivered an open verdict stating that the evidence didn't explain his death.

A post-mortem said that Liam died of a heart attack, but the Serious Crime Review Team, led by Des McTiernan, has started a new investigation. 

The Team will now reassess his death, with the intention to exhume his body as part of the investigation. 

Liam's son says he "loved the family, loved life, loved a good day" and always "embraced the day."