The distraught parents of Cork schoolboy Robert Holohan today said there were still many questions left unanswered as to how their beloved son had died.
A year and nine months after the death of the 11-year-old from Ballyedmond in Midleton, Majella Holohan said: "We just want to know how long did our little boy suffer for."
After the inquest was adjourned, Mrs Holohan said the family were still hunting for the truth.
Mrs Holohan sat side by side with her husband Mark and four other family members as the State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy described the injuries found on Robert's body, and revealed he had died from asphyxia due to compression of the neck.
Their former neighbour Wayne O'Donoghue, who is serving four years for the manslaughter of the schoolboy, was not present or summonsed to attend the inquest in Midleton Court House.
During his trial, O'Donoghue, 21, said he accidentally killed the boy in a row over throwing stones at his car.
He later dumped the 11-year-old's body in a ditch at Inch Strand, and it was found nine days later by searchers.
He was found not guilty of murder, and pleaded guilty to and was convicted of the boy's manslaughter at Ballyedmond on January 4, 2005.
Fighting back tears, Mrs Holohan asked Dr Cassidy: "Can you tell us did Robert suffer?" Dr Cassidy said: "He may have been struggling but would not have suffered any pain."
The state pathologist described bruising to Robert's body on the neck, buttocks, right shoulder, tongue and both lower legs.
She said there were minor injuries to the mouth which could have been caused by a blow or due to a hand held firmly over the mouth.
Mrs Holohan said to the court: "You understand we want to know everything we can otherwise we won't get closure."
Mr Holohan said only Wayne O'Donoghue knew how long he had held Robert for.
"With all the evidence we still don't have answers, how long did Wayne O'Donoghue strangle our little boy for," Mrs Holohan said.
"We just want to know how long did our little boy suffer for."
Mrs Holohan raised questions during her victim impact statement about how her son had died and why semen was found on his body.
After he was sentenced, O'Donoghue's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, immediately denied any suggestion of sexual impropriety on behalf of his client.
During the inquest Mrs Holohan queried trace swabs taken from Robert's hand during post mortem. Dr Cassidy said she could not comment on forensic evidence.
Earlier as Det Sgt Brian Goulding described the search, the discovery of Robert's body and O'Donoghue's subsequent trial, Mark Holohan asked: "Do you think there was a sexual motive in the killing of Robert Holohan ?"
The coroner for south Cork Frank O'Connell said: "Obviously a very important question from your point of view but I cannot let that be investigated here today."
Dr Cassidy said Robert appeared sexually immature. "There was no evidence of a violent or forceful sexual assault, as there were no injuries to his penis or anus."
The inquest was adjourned under Section 25 (2) of the Coroner's Act as the DPP's appeal against the leniency of O'Donoghue's four-year sentence is being considered by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
PA