A Garda Ombudsman Commission investigation into the death of Dubliner Terence Wheelock, who died after being found unconscious in a Garda station, has found that gardaí did not cause his death.
Mr Wheelock (20), of Séan O’Casey Avenue, Dublin 1, died in the Mater hospital in Dublin on September 16th, 2005. He had spent three months in a coma having been found unconscious in a cell in Store Street Garda station in the north inner city on June 2nd.
He was arrested at his home in Summerhill, Dublin, in relation to a Garda investigation into a stolen car.
While the investigation has identified a number of procedural shortcomings around the handling of prisoners in custody in cells in Garda stations, it has found no evidence that Garda mistreatment led to Mr Wheelock’s death.
An inquest into Terence Wheelock’s death found that he died of suicide. However, the dead man’s family has always insisted he was not suicidal, and that he had been mistreated by gardaí.
The inquest, which concluded in July 2007, was told that Mr Wheelock hanged himself in his cell using a ligature fashioned from a cord in his tracksuit bottoms. The jury at the inquest returned a majority verdict of death by suicide.
The Garda Ombudsman Commission decided to investigate the death in the public interest following the conclusion of the inquest process. The Wheelock investigation was the first ever “public interest” investigation undertaken by the commission.
The report outlined systemic failures and a lack of clear instruction in several areas which allowed a ligature point to be left in a cell where Mr Wheelock could hang himself from and that officers also allowed him to bring the cord from his tracksuit into the cell. It said official recording of details of his time in custody were inadequate.
The Ombudsman said there was insufficient evidence of an assault during the arrest and no credible evidence Mr Wheelock had been mistreated or taunted in custody. It also said allegations that the young man had been sexually assaulted in custody were wholly without foundation.
The Garda Ombudsman recommended an immediate nationwide review of all Garda cells to ensure there are no ligature points, assess the feasibility of having CCTV in all custody areas including cells and create a specialist Garda custody officer to deal with suspects.
Other recommendations include clear instructions on prisoner searches, custody records and first aid equipment.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said today the process of modernising stations to remove potential ligature points in cells has already begun. He said 10 Garda stations have been upgraded with CCTV in custody areas and there are plans to install systems in another five.
Cells and detention facilities in 40 Garda stations were assessed two years ago and improvement works are ongoing, he added.
Mr Murphy also said a revised Garda custody record was issued last year which provides for risk assessment of every suspect and also notes their condition on arrival.
Additional reporting: PA