A neighbor of Liam's, Michael Shanley, informs Brendan Farrell about a dark-coloured car parked outside the front bedroom window of Liam's home at approximately 11:15 PM on the night of January 11th, raising further questions about the events of that night. He recalled the night in question as being the same night he noticed all the lights were on in the house as he walked down to the pub and the same night he walked back from the pub at 1.15am with a local couple.

Superintendent Kevin English explains to the family that there was nothing of a criminal nature found, that would support Liam being subject to any assault prior to his death and there was no evidence on his body that would support an assault.His opinion was that liam had a heart attack at the front gate and lost consciousness there, then crawled to the back door where he became disoriented. He also told the family that the body is the greatest giver of evidence and were he the subject of assault their 87 year old father would have been able to defend himself. The Superintendent offered to return all of Liam Farrell's belongings to the Farrell family including those in evidence bags at the meeting. The family refused to take the items back. Superintendent Kevin English was then informed of the sighting of a car by neighbour Michael Shanley parked outside Liam's bedroom window while Liam was in the pub. The Farrell family was not made aware of the blood-soaked timber found beside Liam's body, nor the blood-soaked hanky, nor the blood-soaked tissue beside the body. They were not made aware of a hat that was located beside Liam's shoes. They were also not made aware of a blood-soaked small bathroom towel located beside the mop bucket which was filled with a mixture of blood colored water.

Neighbour Tom Moran invites Liam Farrell's son Peter to his home. As stated in the public record at the inquest, Mr Moran tells Peter that Liam didn't die where he was found and that he was dragged there. Three years later, photographic evidence would become available, which depicted injuries that were consistent with Liam's body being dragged. Forensic pathologist at the inquest also confirmed injuries to Liam's heels were in fact consistent with being dragged as Mr Moran had claimed.

The family of the late Liam Farrell have a second meeting with Superintendent Kevin English at Carrick-on-Shannon Garda station. Superintendent English tells the family that that gardai had examined the photographs taken of Liam Farrell's injuries and there was nothing in those photographs that were inconsistent with the post mortem results which opined that Liam died of a sudden cardiac death. The family were told that the mop and mop bucket found at the scene of Liam's death which contained water with a clear reddish bloodlike discolouration were taken from the scene by the scenes of crime unit of the Gardai.The Superintendent further informed the family that no forensic analysis had been done on the mop or bucket because there was already a definitive cause of death determined and there was nothing to support criminality in the death of Liam, but he confirmed that both the mop and bucket were still in Gardai possession.

The Farrell family were also told by Superintendent English that no forensic analysis had been done on Liam's keys with possible red blood stains which were found at the front gate of Liam's home for the same reason in that the Gardai had decided that there was nothing suspicious in Liam's death. The Superintendent advised the family that no one else has come forward with any other evidence. He did not mention of neighbour Michael Shanley telling Detective Tom Tully, on January 12th at the scene, about the possible sighting of a car outside Liam's bedroom window the night before on January 11th and also does not mention another neighbour Linda Mcloughlin, also telling Detective Tom Tully at the scene, on that same evening, about a second set of footprints she had observed running parallel with the wall at the front lawn.

The family ask multiple times during the meeting for an investigation to be opened in to Liam's death and Superintendent Kevin English tells family he will agree to open a file into the case.

Superintendent Kevin English retired from An Garda Síochána after 38 years on the force.

The Leitrim Observer and Ocean FM both reported that Retired Garda Superintendent, Kevin English, had recently been appointed to a position within the Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dublin.

Background

The Inquest is held at Carrick On Shannon courthouse some four years and nine months after Liams death.. Several people involved in crucial decision-making roles in the case are not present and they are not called as witnesses, including Superintendent Kevin English (retired), Coroner Eamon McGowan (retired), and Leo Sheridan, Garda Forensic Analyst (retired). Further, no photographs of the extensive injuries to Liam Farrell were shown to the jury.

Key witness evidence

Dr. Paul Hartel, hospital pathologist who conducted the post-mortem, admitted under cross-examination that he should not have performed the post-mortem as the body came from a designated crime scene and he is not qualified as a forensic pathologist. He attributed Liams's numerous injuries on his body to a possible farming accident.

State Forensic Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that the injuries to Liam's face and hands are all blunt force trauma injuries and that third-party involvement in this case cannot be ruled out.

Professor Jack Crane, Forensic Pathologist, Northern Ireland 1990-2014, testified that he believed that injuries sustained by Liam were as a result of an assault and were not typical of collapse injuries due to falls. He went on to say that the injuries to the back of Liam's hands, wrists, and fingers were consistent with someone defending themselves after being knocked to the ground. Professor Jack Crane also testified that the injuries to Liam's heels were consistent with Liam being dragged.

Michael Shanley, a neighbour, stated that he told Detective Garda Tully about the possible sighting of a car parked outside the bedroom window of Liam's house as he walked past on his way to Reynolds' Pub.

Liam Farrell's son Peter stated that neighbour Tom Moran invited Peter to his home on the evening of Saturday, Jan 25th, 2020, and told him that ‘Your father didn't die where he was found, he was dragged there'.

Verdict

The jury returned an open verdict is recorded at Carrick-on-Shannon Coroner's Court due to inconclusive evidence about whether foul play occurred. Conflicting expert opinions are presented regarding the cause of Liam's injuries and death.

Further to the evidence in the inquest, including statements regarding the body being moved, supported by the forensic evidence of injuries to the heels consistent with that raising suspicions that Liam may have been attacked elsewhere before the body was moved to where he was discovered, the family engaged private forensic experts to test the hayshed and grounds behind the house. The forensic team tested in the hayshed and adjoining ground using the chemical luminol to detect the presence of blood. They got positive 'hits' for the presence of blood on a section of rope and adjoining ground in the hayshed.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris appoints an independent Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) to conduct a peer review of the original investigation into Liam Farrell's death, addressing inconsistencies and determining whether foul play was involved. Commissioner Harris also agreed to meet the family.

The Farrell family unveiled a memorial plaque for Liam Farrell outside his home on the 5th anniversary of his death. Member of European Parliament (MEP) Ciaran Mullooley in attendance calls for a brand new investigation into the supicious circumstances of Liam's death.

Detective Inspector Ray Mulderrig meets with the Farrell family at Carrick-on-Shannon Garda station to discuss review recommendations from both the first investigation, headed by Superintendent Kevin English (retired from Garda Siochana) and now working in the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the second investigation, headed by Detective Inspector Ray Mulderrig.

The recommendations from the review as outlined by Detective Mulderrig include numerous recommendations including re-interviewing people, checking location of CCTV cameras and checking the street lighting. The family are also told of a request by Dr. Linda Mulligan, State Forensic Pathologist, that an independent forensic pathologist from outside Ireland should review evidence and the Gardai are currently attempting to source such a person.

There is no admission of a mistake being made by the original Garda investigation headed by Superintendent Kevin English in allowing a non-forensic pathologist to conduct the autopsy where the body came from a designated crime scene as outlined by Dr. Paul Hartel at the inquest. Further there is no recommendation for initiating a new investigation or issuing a public appeal for new information.

Among the recommendations that was most noteworthy was a recommendation to engage a dog expert to ascertain if it were possible if Liam Farrell's dog, 'Marley', a labrador, could have removed Liam’s socks, shoes, overcoat, blazer and tie as all were found beside his dead body at the scene.