Farrell family renew calls for exhumation as part of fresh investigation into father’s death
A photograph of the late Liam Farrell beside a memorial plaque at his Roosky home.
The family of 87-year-old Roosky farmer Liam Farrell, who was found dead in suspicious circumstances at his home almost six years ago, are renewing calls for a fresh investigation into his death.
On January 11th, 2020, the father-of-five walked home along the N4 road in the village of Rooskey after an evening socialising locally.
Fifteen hours later, he was discovered by family members at the back door of his home, covered in blood, with his shoes and socks removed, his watch broken and bruising to his left eye and his feet.
A jury recorded an open verdict into Mr Farrell's death at an inquest last September.
The family of the elderly widower strongly believe their father was the subject of an assault before he suffered a heart attack.
RTÉ’s Prime Time programme on Thursday, which looked at the case, laid bare again the many unanswered questions for the family following their father's death almost six years ago.
Speaking after last night’s programme, one of his sons, Willie Farrell, renewed calls for a fresh investigation into their father’s death.
“Our aim right now is to bring the campaign for justice for our father to the Oireachtas and push for a new investigation.
“We want to rally as many people as possible in the political arena to push for an inquiry into this with nothing less than a serious crimes team out of the Phoenix Park that will have total independence from the original investigation team,” he said.
As part of any new investigation, the family are seeking for a forensic pathology to be carried out on their father. “We have invested with experts and that is what they are telling us needs to happen and that will be done through the need for an exhumation,” said Willie.
A forensic pathology on bone matter can detect signs of injuries such as breaks and fractures.
Willie said key information provided to them initially about their father’s body being dragged to the back door along with the sighting of a dark coloured car outside their father’s house that night was “now being reneged on” by those who provided it.
“It is a concern that makes you ask why,” he said.
*See full story in next week’s edition of the Roscommon Herald.
