A GARDA has told the inquest into the death of Dwayne Foster that he did not receive methadone while she was on duty at the station where he was detained and that she did not see bruises on him.
Foster (24), of Woodbank Avenue, Finglas, Dublin 11, was being held at Coolock Garda station for questioning in relation to the fatal shooting of mother-of- one Donna Cleary when he was discovered unresponsive on March 7th, 2006. Ms Cleary was shot dead at a party at Adare Green, Coolock, two days earlier. Garda Tara Goode, who was on duty at Coolock Garda station and who processed Foster after his arrival shortly before 12.30am on March 6th, was questioned at length yesterday. She said she saw no bruises on Foster when he arrived and he made no complaints.
Garda Goode said she could not recall if she had asked Foster whether he was on medication. Asked by coroner Dr Brian Farrell if there was “any interaction” in relation to drug usage, Garda Goode replied, “No.”
Tablets were found in Foster’s clothing at the time of his arrest. At no time while she was station orderly did Foster request or receive methadone, Garda Goode said.
At an earlier hearing in November 2009 the inquest heard Dr Peadar Kirk had examined Foster on two occasions at the station on March 6th, 2006 and administered methadone to the 24 year old on both occasions.
Foster had told Dr Kirk he was on a methadone treatment programme. The doctor made at least two attempts to call the methadone clinic on the Ballymun Road to confirm Foster was on its programme but without success.
The inquest has already heard that solicitor Seán O’Donnell, who saw Foster at the station, made complaints to Garda Goode about four injuries Foster told him he had sustained, including a bruise over his right eye and bruising at the back of his left hand, which she noted.
Shown a picture of Foster which was taken at 2.30pm the following day, Garda Goode accepted one of Foster’s ears was “slightly red” and there was a mark over one of his eyelids.
The inquest continues on Monday.