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| Alan Drennan: Second post mortem to be held when body returns from Ibiza | |
| (about 2 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". | 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. | 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 held in the Republic of Ireland. | |
| Depending on its results, the Dublin district coroner could then begin an inquest into the death. | Depending on its results, the Dublin district coroner could then begin an inquest into the death. |
| 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. | 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 found 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 the terminology was "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 the terminology was "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 said. | "He told them that police had arrested him, he was in their detention and couldn't leave, and that they assaulted him," Mr Madden said. |
| "Because of the conflict between the statement given by Spanish police and the statements given by Alan's friends, the family is concerned they don't have the full picture. | "Because of the conflict between the statement given by Spanish police and the statements given by Alan's friends, the family is concerned they don't have the full picture. |
| "One of the ways to try to obtain that information is to have another post mortem." | |
| The new post mortem would give the family "peace of mind, to try to find out forensically what was the cause of death" he added. | |
| Answers | Answers |
| A spokesman for the Dublin district coroner's office said the Irish state pathologist will carry out a new autopsy. | A spokesman for the Dublin district coroner's office said the Irish state pathologist will carry out a new autopsy. |
| He added that any decision as to whether or not an inquest would be held into Mr Drennan's death would be made when the results of that examination are obtained. | He added that any decision as to whether or not an inquest would be held into Mr Drennan's death would be made when the results of that examination are obtained. |
| Mr Drennan's family "know they have to be strong" as their wait for information on their son's death continues, Mr Madden said. | Mr Drennan's family "know they have to be strong" as their wait for information on their son's death continues, Mr Madden said. |
| "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." | "When you get that dreadful news, all you want is to get your loved one home as soon as possible." |