The body of triple killer Brendan O'Donnell was released to his family yesterday following a postmortem. However, the results of the examination carried out by Dr John Harbison, the State pathologist, are "not likely to be known for some time", according to the Department of Justice.
O'Donnell (23) was found dead in his cell at Dublin's Central Mental Hospital last Thursday morning. The Eastern Health Board said as far as it could ascertain O'Donnell had died of natural causes.
The Department of Justice said yesterday that following the completion of the post-mortem, funeral arrangements were now a family matter. O'Donnell's grandmother, Mrs Mary Quinn, of Eyrecourt, Co Galway, said yesterday no arrangements had yet been made and they were a matter for his father. She expressed her desire to go to the funeral, which is likely to take place at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. She believed his father would attend.
O'Donnell, who was very close to his grandmother as a youngster, was serving a life sentence for the murders of Imelda Riney (29), her three-year-old son, Liam, and Co Galway curate, Father Joe Walsh (37). Their bodies were found in Cregg Wood, Co Clare, in 1994. Since his conviction, O'Donnell was taken to hospital on a number of occasions. He was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital last Monday week after cutting his arms and returned to the Central Mental Hospital the following day. Two days later, he was found dead in his bed at 8.20 a.m.
Mr Tony Muggivan looked after O'Donnell for a period and kept in touch with him since his imprisonment. He said he believed O'Donnell was "too fit to have died from natural causes and I think he committed suicide".