Photograph May Be A Key To Bolivia Death

The remains of the Irishman killed in Bolivia last Thursday, Michael Dwyer, will be returned home later this week.

Officials from the Irish embassy in Argentina are in La Paz to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of the 24-year-old. Bolivian officials claimed Michael Dwyer was shot during a 30-minute gunfight with police after they had foiled a plot to assassinate the president.

But, according the BBC, pictures of Mr Dwyer's body after he was shot dead suggest he was not involved in a gun battle with police at the time of the shooting.

The photographs, that appeared in a Bolivian paper, show Mr Dwyer in his underwear, suggesting he may have been in bed when shot.

An Irish minister said that Mr Dwyer had no criminal record and there was nothing in his background to suggest any misbehaviour.

Mr Cowen said the Government will wait until the official report is back to the Department of Foreign Affairs before taking any further action.

Mr Dwyer, from Ballinderry, Co Tipperary, was killed in Santa Cruz, as was another two men, from Hungary and Croatia. Two others were arrested.

See: Irish Man Killed In Bolivian Shoot-Out

(AC/BMcC)