The Justice Minister has ordered an independent inquiry into the brutal murder of a priest nearly 30 years ago.

Alan Shatter has asked Senior Counsel, Dominic McGinn, to probe the investigation carried out by the gardai into the death of Fr Niall Molloy.

It will focus on a recent Garda review into the cleric’s brutal death.

Fr Molloy was beaten to death after a glitzy wedding in Offaly in 1985.

Officers looking into the vicious attack at the plush mansion of a wealthy socialite couple in 1985 completed a new internal inquiry.

It revealed he died from severe head injuries sustained in the bedroom of the sprawling country home of businessman Richard Flynn.

The bruised and lifeless body of Fr Molloy was discovered in the bedroom of Mr Flynn and the carpet was soaked in an eight foot bloodstain.

Nobody has even been brought to justice for the callous killing of the popular priest.

His family has been tirelessly campaigning for justice since the ‘80s.

Flynn had originally been charged with manslaughter but the trial lasted just one morning after the judge, TF Roe, threw out the case.

Fr Molloy’s family was never happy with the initial investigation.

They claim the charges were dismissed because Molloy had a bad heart but the subsequent inquest found he didn’t.

It was also made out during the court case that Fr Molloy was a heavy drinker and that he was drunk on the night and hit his head.

The family said it was known that Fr Molloy was only a light social drink and he had some drink in his system at the time but only a very small amount.

They have claimed in the Seanad that his murder was “the biggest cover-up in the history of the State”.

They believe certain people hold vital information about his death. They are calling on them now to come forward with that information.

One of Fr Molloy’s nephews, Henry McCourt addressed a crowd on the 27th anniversary of the priest’s passing.

He said: “We are asking anyone who knows anything about Niall’s vicious murder to bring it to us now.

“Our family have been seeking justice and the truth about his death for almost three decades. We have been left with countless unanswered questions.

“The architects of his death and subsequent cover-up know who they are and have been holding dark secrets for many, many years.

“But we will never rest until we find out what happened to Niall and why we have been denied justice for him for so long.”