AFTER years of delay the inquest will finally commence on Wednesday into the death of Churchill man Seamus Doherty.
It is over a decade since 67-year-old Mr Doherty was found dead at his home at Drumnacoo.
He was found deceased on June 17 2012 but his death was only declared a murder three days later.
A 53-year-old Raphoe man was subsequently charged with killing the father-of-four but that allegation was withdrawn ahead of a trial at the Central Criminal Court in 2017.
Members of the Doherty family have always expressed serious concerns about the investigation into the death. These centre on the fact that officers gave the murder accused a lift home, allowed him to return to the scene the following day to collect his car and failed to notify the State pathologist at the time.
The inquest into Mr Doherty’s death was opened and adjourned in September 2018.
At that time county coroner Dr Denis McCauley explained to the deceased’s daughter Catriona, her legal representative barrister
Garret McGrory, Garda Inspector David Kelly and barrister for the Garda Commissioner Miriam Reilly SC that he wanted to run the inquest as effectively as possible.
“I want to hear from all interested parties. I will not run the inquest until I am sure we have everything and don’t start with an objection,” Dr McCauley said.
facts
The coroner added that an inquest was only about finding out the facts of death.
He said evidence would be heard from eleven witnesses, including civilians and gardaí.
Among those listed to appear was the State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy who has since retired.
The long-awaited hearing will open at 10.30am on Wednesday and is expected to last a number of days
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