KEN FETHERSTON (26), whose remains were discovered in the Dublin Mountains at the end of January died from stab wounds, an inquest has heard.
The father of one, who was from Tallaght, was reported missing in September 2009.
Skeletal remains discovered at the Viewing Point on Military Road, Rathfarnham, in January this year were later confirmed to be those of Mr Fetherston.
Garda investigations are ongoing regarding Mr Fetherston’s death, Detective Inspector Pat Lordan of Tallaght Garda station told the opening of an inquest into the man’s death at Dublin County Coroner’s Court yesterday.
Speaking outside the court after the brief hearing, his father, Brian Fetherston, appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
“I do believe there are people out there that have information... anything at all... it just might be the final piece of the puzzle needed,” said Mr Fetherston.
“There’s a confidential phone line there and there’s no reason to be afraid,” he said.
He said he was coping with his son’s death “with a lot of difficulty. We are all shattered....the whole family. It’s very difficult and today is a very difficult day. Today is Ken’s birthday. He’d be 27.
“Ken did nothing wrong. Ken did absolutely nothing wrong. We want to emphasise that. Ken is totally, completely innocent. To end up like this, the way he had ended up, it’s a dreadful tragedy.”
A large number of Ken Fetherston’s relatives and family friends attended Dublin County Coroner’s Court yesterday for the opening of the inquest, including his mother Grainne, his sister Niamh and his girlfriend, Gemma.The dead man had one daughter, Nicole (4).
The inquest heard a post-mortem by the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis found Mr Fetherston, who was identified using dental records, died from stab wounds.
Detective Inspector Lordan applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25.1 of the Coroner’s Act due to the ongoing Garda investigation, which coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty granted.
“You need a long adjournment?” asked the coroner to which Detective Inspector Lordan replied, “Yes.” The coroner adjourned the inquest for a year to a date in May 2011.
Mr Fetherston, who was not known to gardai, was last seen at Landy’s Industrial Estate in Knocklyon on the day he went missing, September 22, 2009. His red Honda Civic was found parked in a lay-by on the N11 at Gorey, four days after his disappearance.
Anyone with information can contact gardai at Tallaght Garda Station on 01 -6666000.