Liam Farrell exhumed in Leitrim as Garda cold case review intensifies
The body of liam farrell was exhumed on Friday morning in Co Leitrim as Gardaí pushed forward with a cold case review into the circumstances of his death in 2020. The operation began at 8am at Cloonmorris Cemetery in Bornacoola and ended just before 11am, with the remains then taken to Dublin for a forensic postmortem examination. The case centers on questions around the death of the 87-year-old farmer, whose family believe he was assaulted.
Exhumation carried out in Bornacoola
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau conducted the exhumation at the cemetery where liam farrell was buried in January 2020. Two unmarked Garda vehicles escorted the private ambulance containing his remains after the procedure, while Chief State Pathologist Prof Linda Mulligan was present throughout. The exhumation is intended to advance the case forensicly and to examine the circumstances of his death more closely.
Chief Supt Des McTiernan said Gardaí were determined to move the process ahead and have already begun interviewing witnesses in the Roosky area, including people who were interviewed during the original investigation. He also appealed for anyone who was socialising in the same venues on the night Farrell was last seen to come forward with any information that could help provide clarity.
Family calls for answers in Liam Farrell case
Farrell’s sons Willie, Peter and Brendan were present at the cemetery. Willie Farrell said the family had gone through an arduous journey to reach this stage and insisted they will not give up on finding out what happened that night. He said the cold case team was taking the matter seriously and urged anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward.
Peter Farrell said the case is not only about their father, but also about elderly people in rural Ireland who should be able to live out their years safely. Brendan Farrell said no forensic postmortem examination was carried out immediately after his father’s death, adding that future cases should learn from that experience. The family has maintained that the injuries seen on Liam Farrell were consistent with an assault.
Timeline of the night before the death
Gardaí say Farrell left his home in Rooskey just before 9pm on January 11th 2020 and walked to Reynolds Pub, where he socialised with local people. At 10. 30pm he went next door to The Weir Lodge, where he spent time with more people, including a close friend, before leaving at about 12. 15am on January 12th. He was later found unresponsive by his son and daughter at the rear of his house at around 3. 30pm and was pronounced dead later that day.
The renewed review comes more than six years after the death and follows the decision to examine the case again from a forensic standpoint. For Gardaí, the immediate priority is to gather fresh witness information and complete the postmortem examination now under way. For the family, the focus remains the same: finding answers, accountability and justice in the Liam Farrell case.
