Four young men who had charges brought against them in relation to the death of Brian Murphy who died following a fracas outside a Dublin nightclub in 2000 are now expected to be called to give evidence at an inquest into his death.
The inquest will be reopened today at Dublin City Coroner's Court after the proceedings were adjourned in 2000 until after the criminal trials.
However, today's proceedings are expected to be preliminary and it is possible the inquest may not be heard for more than six months as the legal teams sort out various matters including the summoning of witnesses to give evidence.
It is understood that State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy will be called to give evidence by coroner Dr Brian Farrell.
Dr Cassidy, who did not carry out the postmortem on Mr Murphy, concluded from the forensic evidence that the injuries sustained by Mr Murphy were "relatively minor" and would not be expected to cause his death.
She added that a relatively small amount of alcohol had been shown to give rise to severe outcomes from relatively minor head injuries, resulting in cessation of breathing and, in some cases, death.
Her evidence was at odds with the then State pathologist, Prof John Harbison, who carried out the postmortem on Mr Murphy. In his report, he concluded that Mr Murphy died from swelling of the brain due to severe facial injuries from an assault.
A part of the victim's brain had been flattened and was bleeding, he said.
Four former Blackrock College pupils, Andrew Frame, Dermot Laide, Seán Mackey and Desmond Ryan were later charged with manslaughter and violent disorder following Mr Murphy's death outside Club Anabel disco in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Mr Frame was acquitted of all charges; Mr Mackey and Mr Ryan were convicted of violent disorder and Mr Laide was convicted of manslaughter and of violent disorder.
The manslaughter charge was later overturned and a retrial ordered. However, the DPP told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April that a retrial would not proceed following the statement from Dr Cassidy that concluded that the injuries sustained were relatively minor.
When the inquest takes place, Prof Harbison's postmortem report will be read into the record. However, due to an illness he will not give evidence.
Legal representatives for the Murphy family are expected to question Dr Cassidy on her conclusions.