Cattle dealer's body exhumed

The body of an cattle dealer Richie Barron - who died nearly five years ago - was exhumed today.

The move, at a grave in a cemetery in Co Donegal, was ordered as part of continuing investigations into allegations of corruption among police officers in the area.

The investigation has already led to a series of disciplinary actions and to four men being charged with making false statements to police.

Richie Barron, 54, died in what was initially believed to be a hit-and-run incident in October, 1996.

But the inquiry into Mr Barron’s death later became a murder investigation, and came under the scrutiny of an internal policy probe headed by Garda Siochana Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty.

A police spokesman said the exhumation was ‘‘part of an ongoing investigation’’ and added: ‘‘A post mortem examination is being carried out, and the body will be re-interred later.’’

A report on the investigation being led by Assistant Commissioner Carty was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions a year ago.

It centres around the allegation that Mr Barron was murdered, allegations about arms finds in County Donegal and a bomb hoax in Northern Ireland.

Last month a police sergeant was charged with possessing an illegal firearm in connection with the affair.