High Court orders body of Dean Fitzpatrick be released to his partner

The High Court has ordered that the body of Dublin man Dean Fitzpatrick be released to his partner. The 23 year old brother of Amy Fitzpatrick – missing in Spain since 2008 – was stabbed to death last weekend. The coroner had refused to release his remains to either of his parents after a dispute arose over where he should be buried. Dean Fitzpatrick was stabbed to death at an apartment on the Malahide road last Saturday night. He was due to be buried today but the coroner refused to release the body after a dispute arose between his parents. His mother Audrey wanted to bury him beside her mother, whom he was very close to. But his father Christopher wanted to bury him in his own grave at Fingal cemetery in the event that his sister Amy, who hasn’t been since she went missing in Spain over five years ago, is found. Following lengthy discussions between the two parties, the matter came before the High Court today. In the absence of an agreement, it was decided that the body would be released to Dean’s partner – Sarah O’Rourke on the strict condition that both parents are given an equal say in the funeral arrangements. The coroner will now make arragaments to release Dean’s body and a removal could take place as early as tomorrow