An inquest into the death of 15-year-old schoolgirl Rebekah Kiely, who died after being struck by a baseball bat, was adjourned yesterday at the Dublin City Coroner's Court due to outstanding criminal proceedings arising from the death.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he was adjourning the inquest into the death of the Castleknock teenager because six of the witnesses scheduled to give evidence at the inquest are also giving evidence at a criminal case at the District Court on November 5th.
"I feel it would not be appropriate or proper to go ahead with the inquest," he said. I want to apologise to the family and to Rebekah's friends. I was unaware of the proceedings in court until this morning." The Junior Cert student died from massive head injuries in Beaumont Hospital on November 24th, 2006, two weeks after being hit on the head outside St Brigid's GAA club on the Navan Road on November 10th.
The incident followed a violent altercation between two men during which Rebekah was hit with a bat. Two men were later charged over the incident.
One of the men, Gerard Farmer of Phoenix Park subsequently died. Proceedings are being brought against the second man, David Griffiths of Phoenix Court on November 5th for assault of a man and a public order offence.
The coroner adjourned the inquest for mention to November 16th.