Sutherland family issue statement on exhumation application

The family of the late boxer Darren Sutherland say they believe that the conduct of a second post-mortem into his death will only assist in putting all relevant matters before the coroner when the inquest into his death is reconvened later this year. The Sutherlands released a statement through solicitors James Evans and Desmond Doherty last week following an application for an exhumation of the boxer's remains in St Finian's Cemetery in Navan, which was noted at last week's meeting of Meath County Council. The decision to seek an exhumation licence was one taken after very careful and indepth consideration of all issues by the family, the statement added. "Their only motivation for taking this step is to ensure some certainty is brought to the circumstances surrounding Darren's death," the statement continued. "They are firmly of the view that the only forum for determining the facts surrounding Darren's death is through the judicial process and not otherwise. In due course, they will be giving evidence before the coronial inquest into their son's death," The initial hearing was adjourned last September after the Olympic bronze medal-winner was found dead in his flat in south London. Toxicology tests are among the medical investigations being carried out in Britain into his death. Police have already said they are not treating his death as suspicious. The inquest was opened and adjourned at Croydon Coroner's Court. It is not known how long the coroner's investigation will take and when the hearing will resume. Shortly after Darren's death, his father, Tony, publicly declared that he was sure his son did not suffer from depression. An emotional Tony Sutherland said on RTE's 'Late Late Show' that the family was still waiting for answers about his son's death. Tony Sutherland also told how his son was acting normally the night before he died.