The Garda today exhumed the body of William Delaney, who died in 1970 aged 13, as part of an investigation into sexual and physical abuse at a reform school in Letterfrack in Co Galway.
It is understood an initial examination of the body has been done.
The decision to disinter the body was taken after fellow pupils at the school - run by the Christian Brothers - alleged he had been beaten shortly before he left the institution for summer holidays in 1970.
He had been sent to the school aged of nine on a court order.
He complained of a headache on arrival at his parents' home in July 1970 and collapsed and died shortly afterwards. His family believed meningitis led to his death.
The Garda have been investigating allegations of abuse of boys at the Letterfrack reformatory since 1996 and have taken statements from dozens of former pupils. The school closed in the mid-1970s.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy will carry out a post-mortem examination on the body of the boy later today.