Funeral of Dean Fitzpatrick delayed over burial plot dispute

The funeral of Dubliner Dean Fitzpatrick, who was killed last Saturday in a stabbing incident, has been delayed because a dispute over the arrangements has arisen within his extended family.

The 23-year-old's father, Christopher Fitzpatrick, contacted the office of the Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell to ask it to delay the release of his son's remains.

Differences have emerged between Mr Fitzpatrick and the dead man's mother, Audrey Fitzpatrick, over what plot the father of one should be buried in. The dead man's parents have been estranged for many years.

Ms Fitzpatrick intended for her son to be buried in a plot connected to her family, while Mr Fitzpatrick is said to prefer his son be buried in a new plot.

The chief suspect for the killing requested an independent postmortem on the remains, as is the right of any homicide suspect.

The request is not believed to have been a factor in his burial being delayed.

The funeral Mass had been scheduled to take place this morning at St Brendan’s Church in Coolock, north Dublin, with burial at Fingal Cemetery. It is unclear when the dead man will be buried.

A spokeswoman for Dr Farrell said his office would never comment on an individual case. However, speaking in general terms, she said there was no formal process for requesting that a deceased’s remains be retained pending the resolution of a difference of opinion surrounding funeral details.

“Somebody could simply make a phone call to the office,” she said. Requests to retain a body had arisen only “a handful of times” in recent decades and such cases had been resolved when the families had reached agreement.

Originally from Donaghmede, Mr Fitzpatrick was fatally stabbed during a scuffle in an apartment at Northern Cross, Malahide Road, shortly before 11.30pm last Saturday.

His sister, Amy, was aged 15 years when she went missing in January 2008. Nothing has been heard from her since.