A JURY has recommended that regional Garda support units with trained negotiators and non-lethal weaponry be developed, after hearing how a man with mental health problems took his own life during a stand-off with gardaí.
Trevor Clancy (26), Pike Hill, Fermoy, Co Cork, died after he placed two knives against his chest and stabbed himself by pushing himself on to the blades to end a near 30-minute stand-off with gardaí in Fermoy at about 1.45am on December 31st, 2006.
Yesterday at the inquest into Mr Clancy's death, Supt Tom Hayes said that following a general review of Garda operations, it was planned to develop regional Garda support units with trained negotiators and non-lethal weaponry for hostage-taking and other critical situations.
The inquest heard evidence that gardaí were alerted at about 1.10am by security staff at SGI nightclub in Fermoy when they refused Mr Clancy entry to the club, after realising he was carrying two knives. A number of gardaí then approached him in the town.
Garda Tracey Whelan and Sgt John Liston told how they appealed repeatedly to Mr Clancy to drop the knives when he produced them, but he was agitated and he refused. He kept telling them he was the Angel Gabriel.
The gardaí told how they followed at a safe distance and called for support, and when they were joined by colleagues they tried to disarm him.
Sgt Liston suffered a serious stab wound to the stomach. The inquest heard how Garda Whelan and Sgt Liston both struck Mr Clancy with their batons on his arm to try and get him to drop the knives. Garda James Morrissey told how he tried to hit him on the shoulder but hit him on the head when Mr Clancy moved.
Mr Clancy continued to hold on to the knives and an attempt by Garda Morrissey to disarm him by spraying him with a fire extinguisher in the face also proved unsuccessful.
Det Garda Tom Ryan said he decided not to produce his gun as he feared it would result in Mr Clancy focusing on him and if he came for him with the knives, he would have had no alternative but to shoot him.
The inquest heard how up to 10 gardaí were involved in the stand- off with Mr Clancy as he made his way across the bridge to Brian Boru Square in Fermoy, where he continued to ignore appeals from gardaí, friends and his father, Éamon, to hand over the knives.
The inquest heard how Garda Breda O'Sullivan threw her heavy Maglite torch at Mr Clancy in a desperate effort to disarm him after he took off his shirt and placed the two knives against his chest before impaling himself on the two blades and then extracting them.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said Mr Clancy died from haemorrhage and shock due to two fatal stab wounds to the heart. Subsequent toxicology tests found no evidence of drugs but did find a blood alcohol level of 235mg.
Eamon Clancy said his son had been admitted to Sarsfield's Court psychiatric hospital for 10 days in October 2006. He felt he should not have been discharged and believed the health system had failed him as he did not keep daycare appointments or take his medication.
The jury returned a verdict of death by suicide. The coroner for north Cork, Dr Michael Kennedy, extended his sympathies to the Clancy family.