Body of assault victim set for return

THE body of teenager Derek Cumiskey, who died after an assault in Lanzarote, is expected to be flown back to Dublin today.

A second post mortem will then be conducted on Mr Cumiskey’s body on Monday.

The award-winning special needs student had just finished his Junior Certificate exams this summer and was holidaying with his older sister Joanne last week.

While returning to his apartment in the popular resort of Puerto del Carmen, the 18-year-old was set upon by a group of men in the early hours of Wednesday morning near a takeaway and hit across his head with an iron bar.

He collapsed and dieddespite attempts by emergency services to revive him.

An autopsy found he suffered a heart attack.

After nearly a week trying to find answers about their brother’s death, sisters Joanne, Martina and Karen will return home with Mr Cumiskey’s body today.

His parents John and Ann are being supported by neighbours and relatives at the family home on Townsend Street in Dublin city centre, while they await the arrival of their son’s body.

Spanish authorities this week released Mr Cumiskey’s remains to funeral directors in Lanzarote.

A source supporting the family’s efforts to return the teenager’s remains confirmed his three sisters would fly into Dublin airport today with their brother’s body.

A source close to the family added: “The three sisters wanted to make sure they were on the same flight as their brother.”

The family of Mr Cumiskey were angered this week when they learnt his organs were removed for examination without permission, according to reports.

A preliminary autopsy suggested the student died of natural causes.

Police on the Canary Island are believed to be hunting up to five men who are believed to have attacked the Irish teenager before fleeing in a car.

Spanish police on the island today said that no arrests had been made.

It was Mr Cumiskey’s second trip away from Ireland after a previous holiday to Disneyland two years ago.

He had graduated this summer from St Augustine’s school for special education, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

School principal Phil Gray said he had been awarded student of the year andwas not the type of youngster to get involved in a fight.

A second autopsy will be carried out on Monday on Mr Cumiskey’s remains and his funeral is expected to take place next week.