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| Alan Drennan: Second post-mortem to be held when body returns from Ibiza | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A second post-mortem examination will be carried out on the body of a County Antrim man who died in Ibiza more than a week ago. | |
| Alan Drennan, 21, was found dead in his hotel room on 19 July, less than 24 hours after arriving on the island. | Alan Drennan, 21, was found dead in his hotel room on 19 July, less than 24 hours after arriving on the island. |
| The exact circumstances of his death are still unclear, but friends have claimed he was beaten by police. | The exact circumstances of his death are still unclear, but friends have claimed he was beaten by police. |
| His family wanted a new examination to be carried out after an initial report raised "more questions than answers". | |
| Mr Drennan's body is due to arrive in Dublin at 12:30 local time on Tuesday. | |
| His family's solicitor confirmed that a second post-mortem examination will be carried out in the Republic of Ireland. | |
| Mr Drennan, a mechanic and doorman from Newtownabbey, had gone to Ibiza on holiday with 10 friends. | Mr Drennan, a mechanic and doorman from Newtownabbey, had gone to Ibiza on holiday with 10 friends. |
| They have alleged he was beaten by Spanish police when he was taken into custody at Ibiza airport after an incident on the flight to the Mediterranean island. | |
| But solicitor Michael Madden, who is advising the family, has said police have told them they did not arrest him. | But solicitor Michael Madden, who is advising the family, has said police have told them they did not arrest him. |
| 'Unusual' | 'Unusual' |
| While a post-mortem examination has been carried out in Ibiza, delays and errors over paperwork have delayed the release of his body by Spanish authorities and held up the repatriation process. | |
| Full post-mortem results have yet to be released, but the family has been told an initial report said Mr Drennan died as a result of multiple organ failure. | Full post-mortem results have yet to be released, but the family has been told an initial report said Mr Drennan died as a result of multiple organ failure. |
| Mr Madden said senior pathologists in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland told him that conclusion was "strange" and "unusual to use in the circumstances". | Mr Madden said senior pathologists in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland told him that conclusion was "strange" and "unusual to use in the circumstances". |
| Spanish police had said there were no signs of violence on Mr Drennan's body, but according to his friends he had a number of injuries to his head and upper body. | Spanish police had said there were no signs of violence on Mr Drennan's body, but according to his friends he had a number of injuries to his head and upper body. |
| "He told them that police had arrested him, he was in their detention and couldn't leave, and that they assaulted him," Mr Madden told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme. | "He told them that police had arrested him, he was in their detention and couldn't leave, and that they assaulted him," Mr Madden told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme. |
| "This is the reason that the concerns have been raised by the family, because they have this conflicting statement from the police and what his friends have been saying." | "This is the reason that the concerns have been raised by the family, because they have this conflicting statement from the police and what his friends have been saying." |
| As a result, the family have pushed for a second examination to be carried out when the body returns to Dublin. | |
| Answers | Answers |
| "We're hoping to have the body back on Tuesday," the solicitor said. | |
| "We're trying to get the post-mortem done when the body returns so the family can have peace of mind, to try to find out forensically what was the cause of death." | "We're trying to get the post-mortem done when the body returns so the family can have peace of mind, to try to find out forensically what was the cause of death." |
| Mr Drennan's family "know they have to be strong" as their wait for information on their son's death continues, Mr Madden added. | Mr Drennan's family "know they have to be strong" as their wait for information on their son's death continues, Mr Madden added. |
| "They know, for Alan's sake, they need to get the answers. | "They know, for Alan's sake, they need to get the answers. |
| "But the delays that have been caused and the lack of information has been very difficult to deal with." | "But the delays that have been caused and the lack of information has been very difficult to deal with." |
| Colin Bell, who runs a repatriation charity helping to bring Mr Drennan's body back from Ibiza, has said arranging the return is proving to be difficult. | Colin Bell, who runs a repatriation charity helping to bring Mr Drennan's body back from Ibiza, has said arranging the return is proving to be difficult. |
| "[Spanish authorities] keep coming up with different excuses as to why he can't come on the next available flight," he said. | "[Spanish authorities] keep coming up with different excuses as to why he can't come on the next available flight," he said. |
| "When you get that dreadful news, all you want is to get your loved one home as soon as possible." |