It will be some months yet before the results are available of toxicology tests carried out on a body exhumed last July as part of a Garda investigation into a nurse suspended from Naas General Hospital, it has emerged.
The coroner for Kildare, Prof Denis Cusack, who is investigating the death of the 77-year-old man whose body was exhumed, said the tests were "very unique" and "complex" and are being carried out at an overseas laboratory.
The body of Mr John Gethings was exhumed from a grave in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, after allegations were made by a member of staff at Naas hospital about the amount of medication being allegedly administered to elderly patients by the registered nurse, who was then suspended.
The Irish-born nurse, a woman in her 30s, is also the subject of a Garda investigation. Gardaí interviewed the nurse last November, released her without charge, and are now preparing a file for the DPP.
A decision will not be made on whether or not to exhume the body of another patient, who also died at the hospital, until the results of all toxicology tests on Mr Gethings are known.
Prof Cusack said if he were to discuss even the nature of the tests for which results are awaited in the Gethings case it might interfere with the criminal investigation.
However, he said the tests were so unique and complex they "can only be done in a small number of centres in the world".