THE solicitor representing the family of the man whose death led to the Morris tribunal said they have been "abused, isolated and forgotten" by the state.

Cattle dealer Richie Barron was killed in Raphoe, Co Donegal, in October 1996, in a hit-and-run accident, the tribunal found. The tribunal also found there had been a continuing pattern of harassment of members of the McB­rearty family by some gardaí, who linked their involvement to the death of Barron.

However, Buncrana solicitor Paudge Dorrian, representing Barron's family, said the family do not accept it was a hit –and-run accident and has demanded to know the status of the garda investigation into his death.

"The family feel frustrated and disappointed. Justice Frederick Morris was the only person who has expressed an apology to the family.

People in Donegal don't believe it was a hit and run and neither do the family. It was never investigated properly, the Morris tribunal has clearly found that. The inquest verdict into his death was also left open. Has the garda investigation now been scrapped altogether?"

A spokesman for the Garda Press Office said the investigation "remains open".

Dorrian added that while the Morris tribunal rightly focused on the issue of garda corruption in relation to Barron's death, solving how he died quickly became forgotten. His widow Nora has a case for damages against the state currently going through the High Court. "The Barron issue was always a side issue. All the McBrearty civil cases have been settled but the Barron family are still waiting. The garda commissioner has apologised to other people in the wake of the final Morris reports. The Barron family are still waiting for their apology. It is not good enough how they've been treated. It's a scandal."

Tuesday marks the 12-year anniversary since Barton's death.