Richie Barron's family calls for urgency

The family of Raphoe man Mr Richie Barron has called for "greater urgency" in the ongoing Garda investigation into his death.

The family of Raphoe man Mr Richie Barron has called for "greater urgency" in the ongoing Garda investigation into his death.

The handling of the original Garda investigation into Mr Barron's death in October 1996 led to allegations of corruption against members of the force in Co Donegal and the establishment of the Carty inquiry.

Mr Barron's daughter, Ms Deirdre McGlinchey, said yesterday that after more than five years the family would like to see more progress in the case.

"It doesn't seem to be any further forward. We would like it to be brought to a conclusion," Ms McGlinchey said.

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A man arrested at the weekend and questioned in relation to Mr Barron's death was released without charge. A spokesman for the Carty inquiry said the man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death.

The man, who had been living in England but is from Donegal, was held for 12 hours at Letterkenny Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The Carty inquiry spokesman said no file was expected to be sent to the DPP "in the short term anyway". He said the investigation was continuing however.

It emerged some months ago that gardaí were seeking to interview a number of people currently living in England, and the arrest at the weekend was the first development since.

Ms McGlinchey said her family had been informed of the arrest by the gardaí. She said however that her family was still not convinced that the severe head injuries her father suffered were consistent with a car accident.

Mr Barron's body was exhumed last July to allow the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, to carry out a post-mortem.

His report is believed to state that there is no conclusive evidence to indicate how Mr Barron died, but Dr Harbison expressed the view that the injuries could be consistent with being struck by a vehicle.