Body of man who friends claim was 'beaten' in Ibiza returns to Ireland
The body of a mechanic who died in Ibiza hours after he was allegedly beaten by Spanish police has been returned to Ireland.
Friends of 21-year-old Alan Drennan claim he suffered head injuries after being hit by officers at the island’s airport earlier this month.
Mr Drennan, from Newtownabbey, near Belfast, went out with his friends after the incident but was found dead in his hotel room the next day.
Spanish police initially said there were no signs of violence and a post mortem examination conducted in Spain found the cause of death to be “multiple organ failure”.
However, his family has arranged for another post mortem to be undertaken in Dublin. It is expected to be conducted by the State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy tomorrow morning.
The examination cannot be undertaken in Northern Ireland as the region’s Coroners Service does not have the authority to probe deaths that happened outside the jurisdiction.
Mr Drennan’s father Alan snr travelled to Connolly Hospital in Dublin today to formally identify his son’s body upon its arrival from the airport.
The dance music lover flew to the Mediterranean party island with a group of friends.
They have said Mr Drennan alleged he was beaten by officers from the Guardia Civil after being detained at the airport on Ibiza after an incident on the flight over from Belfast.
There have been previous claims of police brutality by British holidaymakers visiting Ibiza.
Michael Madden, the Drennan family’s solicitor, appealed to anyone who was in the airport or the San Antonio area of Ibiza on Saturday and Sunday July 18/19 to check their photos and videos for footage of Mr Drennan.
“There might be photos there, there might be videos there and there may be signs and images of Alan there that they don’t even realise that they have which could be helpful to the investigation and any possible inquest,” he said.
The PSNI is assisting Spanish police in its investigation of the death.
