The family of Liam Farrell, an elderly Leitrim farmer who died in suspicious circumstances nearly five years ago, is renewing calls for a fresh investigation after new forensic evidence was found in a shed on their property. This development comes after private forensics experts, retained by Liam Farrell's family, discovered “extensive” evidence of blood in a shed at the rear of the home close to where his body was found on January 12, 2020. The specialists found the blood on the ground and on a rope in the shed when they went to the property on Friday. It had not been found in the initial garda investigation.

The discovery of the blood has reignited the family's belief that their father was the victim of a serious assault that precipitated his death from severe coronary heart disease. Liam Farrell’s children believe that their father was the victim of a serious assault that precipitated his death from severe coronary heart disease. The family immediately alerted gardaí, and a team of crime scene investigators from Sligo spent several hours at the property on Saturday evening.

The initial investigation into Mr. Farrell's death had concluded with an open verdict, leaving the family unsatisfied with the outcome. Counsel representing Mr. Farrell’s family told the coroner’s court that they believed their father was assaulted. An inquest two weeks ago into the circumstances of the death of the 87-year-old returned an open verdict, which meant that the jury could not be satisfied as to the actual circumstances surrounding the death.

The new evidence suggests that the initial investigation may have missed crucial details, prompting calls for a full and proper investigation led by specialist units in Dublin. Mr. Farrell’s son Peter revealed that he had retained the services of the private forensics experts. He stated, “The discovery of the blood in the shed validates what we have always believed, that daddy was attacked. It is also consistent with what I was told that he didn’t die where he was found. That must be properly investigated now. It is very hard to think that our lovely father may have been beaten or tortured before his death.”

Peter also criticized the initial investigation, saying that the family was told “there was nothing suspicious and our father died from natural causes – we were warned not to do a ‘CSI job of our own’.” Peter said the family is now demanding a “full and proper” investigation be carried out led by specialist units in Dublin.

The Original Investigation and its Flaws

The inquest into Mr. Farrell's death revealed significant flaws in the original investigation. The initial investigation did not forensically examine the injuries on Mr. Farrell's body, which potentially led to the burial of vital evidence. Consultant pathologist at Sligo University Hospital Professor Paul Hartel, who performed the post mortem, revealed that gardaí had not informed him that the body was found in suspicious circumstance. He believed he was dealing with a case of death by natural causes.

If he had known that the gardaí were treating the case as suspicious, he said he would have referred the post mortem to a forensic pathologist. The result was that injuries to the body were not forensically examined, and therefore potential evidence was literally buried.

The family's belief that Mr. Farrell was assaulted is supported by the testimony of Dr. Jack Crane, the former state pathologist for the North, who was retained by the dead man’s family. He said that it was his opinion that Mr. Farrell had been assaulted.

Calls for a Fresh Investigation

The family of Liam Farrell has been vocal in their pursuit of justice, demanding a fresh investigation into their father's death. They have expressed cautious optimism as they await forensic testing results.

A neighbor informed the family that their father might have been dragged into the shed. “I was told that my father did not die where he was found… He was dragged there,” Peter recalled. Peter described the significance of the blood discovery: “We fully expect it’s going to be human blood. We fully expect it’s going to be our father’s blood.”

The family is determined to uncover the truth and secure justice for their father, who they believe deserves answers after years of uncertainty. They are not going to rest until they get justice for their father.” Peter also emphasized the family's obligation: “We have an obligation to our own father to ensure that justice is served.”

The family's calls for a fresh investigation have been echoed by local political figures, including County Councillors Paddy Farrell and Sean McGowan, who back their calls for justice. However, the family has expressed frustration over the slow progress and lack of public outreach. “It’s astonishing how many people in Rooskey weren’t aware that anything happened to Liam Farrell,” Peter noted.

Garda Response to the New Evidence

In a statement, a garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána is carrying out enquiries following receipt of information from a third party. An Garda Síochána cannot provide any further information for operational reasons. Any person contacting An Garda Síochána does so in the expectation of privacy and confidentiality. An Garda Síochána respects the confidentiality of our engagements with private citizens.”

In a recent development, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has agreed to meet the family of Leitrim man Liam Farrell about his tragic death. The 87-year-old died outside his Rooskey home in January 2020, and his family believes he was violently attacked. An inquest returned an open verdict earlier this month and the Farrells are calling for a new Garda investigation into his death. Speaking to Virgin Media News, Commissioner Drew Harris ruled that out - but he's ordered a review of the initial investigation.

The Search for Answers

The Farrell family remains determined to find answers and seek justice for their father. They have vowed to continue their fight until justice is served. The discovery of the blood in the shed has renewed hope for the family and has spurred the gardaí to conduct a peer review of the original investigation. While the outcome of the review remains to be seen, the family remains steadfast in their pursuit of justice and will not rest until they have answers about the tragic death of Liam Farrell.