Family calls for fresh investigation after open verdict in Liam Farrell inquest

Liam Farrell, an 87-year-old man from Aughamore, Co. Leitrim, died suddenly at his home on January 12, 2020, in what his family believes were violent circumstances. The jury in a recent inquest returned an open verdict, stating that the evidence did not fully or clearly explain the cause and circumstances of his death.

Following the conclusion of the inquest, An Garda Síochána released a statement confirming their awareness of the verdict. They stated that "An Garda Síochána carried out a full investigation into the discovery of the body of Mr Farrell on the evening of the 12th January 2020." A file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), but "no prosecution was directed." Despite new information being provided to the DPP, "the office of the DPP has not changed the current direction of no prosecution." The Gardaí also confirmed their continued engagement with the Farrell family, stating, "An Garda Síochána respects the confidentiality of meetings with families and does not disclose the contents of such meetings or discussions."

Brendan Farrell, the son of Liam Farrell, expressed his frustration at the outcome and called for a new investigation into his father’s death. "We want to move forward now and we would be seeking a brand-new fresh investigation into our father's death," he said. Although he acknowledged that the family is limited in what they can do, he added, "All we can do as a family is request it because we feel that there's a lot more to be done in this investigation."

Brendan also shared the family's efforts to gather more information from the public, saying, "We've put out a public appeal for anybody with information… no matter how big or small." He emphasized that even small pieces of information could be critical, adding, "A small bit of information means a lot to the detectives."

When asked about the DPP's decision not to prosecute, Brendan explained, "The threshold has to be met… and that's why we want to pursue the investigation to get whatever more evidence they need in there to reach that threshold." He remains hopeful that new evidence will emerge, as the family continues to search for answers about what happened to their father.

Brendan also referenced testimony from Professor Jack Crane, a former state pathologist of Northern Ireland, who told the inquest that his father had been subject to "blunt force trauma" and had "defense wounds on his hands." Brendan stated, "It's a case now that we want to continue on. We want An Garda Síochána to up the investigation and find out who was there that night when daddy came home to his own house."

While Brendan was careful in commenting on the Garda's handling of the case, he expressed optimism about the investigators, saying, "There is a wonderful team working on my father's case… I have a lot of belief in them." However, he also made it clear that the family is seeking a more extensive investigation, stating, "We are appealing to the Commissioner and to Harris to have a brand new investigation opened, a fresh new investigation, which I feel would be a massive help." He added the family also intends to request a meeting with the Minister for Justice to discuss the case further.