A family devastated by the death of their son on holiday in Tenerife claim that those responsible live in Essex.

Garry Walton, 21, left Ballinamult in Ireland for a week's holiday in the Canary Islands in 1996 but died after falling overboard from a boat, which had about 70 people on board at the time.

The official report from the Spanish authorities initially recorded the incident as an accident but when his body was returned to Ireland it was discovered there were injuries to his face, neck and legs.

An Irish national newspaper later claimed a dispute had taken place between a group of men from Essex and some young men from Ireland and Garry may have been pushed overboard from the Bartos, a 50-year-old converted ice-breaker

His family have travelled to Spain on many occasions to get information about Garry's death and appealed to the local authorities for justice, appointed a local lawyer and spoken to the judge who officiated at the inquest.

But because of the length of time it was taking for the Spanish authorities to investigate the incident in depth, the family decided to go farther afield and involve the British police, the Home Office and the European Court of Human Rights.

A spokesman for the Home Office said it had designated two courts in the UK to gather information on behalf of the Spanish authorities and it will be passed on to them at a later date.

Garry's dad, Robert, said: "We have statements from witnesses who were certain that he did not fall overboard accidentally.

"We heard claims that three men from Essex were probably responsible for Garry's death. They had been picking on him and abusing him throughout the trip."

He said he was disappointed that police in Essex had not carried out their own investigation into Garry's death.

Essex Police said: "The Spanish authorities are conducting an investigation into the death of Garry Walton to which Essex Police have given their full support.

"If anyone who has not given statements to police in England, Spain or Eire comes forward with any more information, we would be very happy to receive it and relay it to the Spanish authorities.

"We are doing all we can to support and assist the family."

In a recent letter to the Waltons from Essex Police, Asst Ch Con John Broughton said: "I have now had the opportunity to review the circumstances surrounding Garry's death and in principle Essex Police is prepared to undertake a more detailed investigation of the circumstances."

But he added that they did not want to jeopardise future judicial proceedings and he is due to meet his legal staff before any commitment is made.

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