Gardaí considered asking for a second post mortem

GARDAÍ probing the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron in 1996 considered carrying out a second post mortem examination on his unburied body immediately after his funeral Mass, it emerged yesterday.

The Morris Tribunal heard that the first post mortem examination said a road traffic accident was the likely cause of death but information received by senior officers on the morning of the funeral led them to suspect Mr Barron could have been murdered.

Frantic efforts were then made to contact Dr John Harbison personally to ask him to carry out a second post mortem.