Man Dies In Garda Custody

The office of the Garda Ombudsman is investigating the death of a man in Garda custody last night.

It is understood the man died in Tallaght Garda station shortly after he was arrested in the Dublin suburb yesterday evening. It is believed Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy referred an incident to the office at 9.30pm.

The incident was referred under section 102(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the spokesman said.

Under this legislation, the Garda Commissioner must refer to the Ombudsman Commission any matter that appears to him to indicate "that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of or serious harm to, a person".

The incident comes only 11 days after the Ombudsman Commission published a report into the circumstances surrounding the death of Terence Wheelock who died at the Mater Hospital, Dublin on September 16 2005 after he was found unconscious in a cell in Store Street Garda station on June 2.

The investigation followed an internal inquiry by the Garda Síochána from which a file was sent to the DPP resulting in no prosecution and an inquest by the Dublin City Coroner which resulted in a verdict of suicide.

However, in light of family and two public concerns, the Ombudsman Commission felt it was in the public interest to carry out its own independent investigation.

There report found there was insufficient evidence to support the allegation that Terence

Wheelock was assaulted by Garda members during his arrest at Sean O’Casey Avenue on June 2 and that there was no credible evidence that Terence Wheelock was mistreated in

any way during his detention at Store Street Garda Station.

(DW/BMcC)