Murdered man’s family forced to wait for body

THE funeral of an Englishman murdered and dumped in a river will take place in Bandon when his body is released.

The body of Blackpool born father-of-four John Forrester, 42, was recovered from the River Bandon in West Cork on November 15.

Family members have finalised funeral arrangements for Mr Forrester and are satisfied to wait until gardaí are ready to release his remains.

The body, which was bound at the hands and feet, was discovered downstream from the West Cork town, wrapped in a rug in a bid to weigh it down.

It is understood he had been stabbed a number of times in the head and neck. His body has been stored at the city mortuary at Cork University Hospital for the past six weeks.

Investigating officers said anyone that is arrested and charged for his murder must be given the opportunity to carry out an independent postmortem examination.

Assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster carried out a postmortem on Mr Forrester’s body on Thursday, November 16.

Gardaí and the Cork County Coroner will only release the body when they are satisfied no follow-on tests will be required.

“We have to give anyone we arrest the opportunity to carry out an independent postmortem, that is the procedure. The family are aware of this and are happy to wait,” Superintendent Eddie McKeown said.

Initially, Mr Forrester’s body was expected to be released last week.

Family members made arrangements for a funeral ceremony to take place at Gabriel and O’Donovan’s funeral home, followed by cremation at Rocky Island in Ringaskiddy.

Relatives, including the man’s father John and his sister Sharon, have twice travelled from Britain. They first arrived in the days immediately after the discovery of the body and returned in December for a memorial ceremony.

“The family were here twice and we have made arrangements for a service and cremation. It was thought the man’s body would be released by now, but as yet we have heard nothing,” funeral director Robert Gabriel said.

Cork County Coroner Frank O’Connell said the body was being held for the moment for “garda operational reasons.”

Mr Forrester, known locally as “Johnny English”, has family based in Lincoln and Nottingham in Britain. He lived in Bandon for two years before his murder.

It took detectives four days to trace family members, who confirmed his identity just hours before mourners turned out for the removal of Jonathan Duke, 27, whose body was recovered from the river in Bandon two days before Mr Forrester’s.