The results of forensic tests carried out on the body of a man exhumed from a grave in Co Wicklow last month as part of a Garda investigation into the activities of a nurse at Naas General Hospital may not be available for a further three weeks.
Garda Supt Tom Neville, who is leading the investigation, said yesterday the tests were being carried out in Britain and their results would determine the direction of the Garda investigation.
"We will be guided by the toxicology reports when we get them," he said. "I expect them within the next three weeks or so."
Meanwhile, Garda inquiries are continuing into the activities of a nurse who was suspended by the South Western Area Health Board after complaints by other staff about the manner in which she was administering drugs to patients.
The body of Mr John Gethings (77) from Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, was exhumed on July 25th. He had been a patient at Naas General Hospital, where he died on March 1st.
His family suspected nothing untoward until July 18th, when they were contacted by gardaí and the health board and told the activities of a nurse who treated him were being investigated.
A post-mortem examination was carried out by the State pathologist's office to try and establish the cause of his death and the level of drugs in his system at the time of his death.
Depending on the results of tests on Mr Gethings, the body of a second person who died earlier this year at Naas hospital may also be exhumed. The coroner for Kildare, Prof Denis Cusack, has already said that based on information provided to him, he was satisfied the two deaths at Naas hospital "may have occurred in an unnatural manner".
Inquests will be held later.