THE BROTHER of a man who died recently has secured leave from the High Court to challenge an inquest verdict that he had committed suicide.
Donatus Simanaitis from Lithuania says he and his family believe Marius Simanaitis was murdered. They had wanted to attend last week’s inquest where the suicide verdict was returned.
The inquest jury was told Mr Simanaitis had shot himself in the head at his apartment off the Navan Road, north Dublin, last March.
His family do not believe this and claim Marius (28), a martial arts expert, was a devoted father to his six-year-old daughter.
Mr Justice Michael Peart granted leave yesterday to Donatus Simanaitis to bring High Court judicial review proceedings against the Dublin county coroner Kieran Geraghty and the Garda Ombudsman over the inquest. They want a rehearing.
The court was told that the Simanaitis family had been led to believe the inquest would be adjourned after their solicitor told the coroner the family would have difficulty in leaving Lithuania for it.