Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3379Assault causing death (death under investigation) · Co. Leitrim · 12 Jan 2020

Body of Leitrim farmer Liam Farrell exhumed in cold case review

The body of 87-year-old Leitrim farmer Liam Farrell was exhumed from Cloonmorris Cemetery, Bornacoola, on 10 April 2026 as part of a Garda cold case review into his suspicious death in January 2020, in which his family believe he was assaulted. His remains were taken to Dublin for a forensic postmortem examination.

  1. Reported10 Apr
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe body of Liam Farrell was exhumed as part of a cold case review into his suspicious death more than six years ago. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe sustained injuries that his family believe were the result of an assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was pronounced dead later that day. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe exhumation took place at Cloonmorris Cemetery, Bornacoola, Co Leitrim. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHe went next door to The Weir Lodge where he had a few drinks with a close friend. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe exhumation began at 8am and finished just before 11am on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenLiam Farrell was found by family members at the back door of his home on 12 January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenLiam Farrell left his home in Roosky just before 9pm on 11 January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe left Reynolds' Pub at 10.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe left The Weir Lodge at about 12.15am on 12 January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe was discovered unresponsive at approximately 3.30pm on 12 January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe remains were taken to Dublin for a forensic postmortem examination. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationChief Supt Des McTiernan said the exhumation was an attempt to progress the case forensically. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationChief State Pathologist Prof Linda Mulligan was present for the exhumation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe serious crime review team has been in charge since October. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLiam Farrell was a father of five. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Apr2026
    Reportedirishtimes.com, first report
    Body of Leitrim farmer Liam Farrell is exhumed in Garda ‘cold case’ review of death

    Exhumation carried out at Cloonmorris Cemetery; forensic postmortem to be conducted in Dublin; cold case review team has been active since October; witnesses being re-interviewed in the Roosky area; no forensic postmortem was carried out at the time of death.

    victim, Liam Farrell, 87, male, irish (judged from name)Liam Farrell