The family of a man killed in 1976 is to seek a meeting with the Minister for Justice about why a death certificate was never issued for him.They also said they had no answers as to why an inquest was finally held into John O’Driscoll’s death yesterday 36 years after his killing.
Mr O’Driscoll (24), Castleconnell, Co Limerick, was struck with a pool cue in a bar in August 1976. Michael Coffey, Lisnagry, Co Limerick, who was 23 at the time, was charged with his murder. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Limerick Circuit Court in 1977 and was given a two-year suspended sentence.
Coroner Dr Timothy Casey at Limerick Coroner’s Court apologised to Mr O’Driscoll’s family for the delay in hearing the inquest but said the case was not under his remit at the time.
A jury at the Coroner’s Court returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
Mr O’Driscoll’s family said later that when they looked for a death certificate they were told none was in existence, nor were they given answers as to why the inquest had taken 36 years to be heard.