Inquest into suicide adjourned

An inquest into the death of a young man who took his life last December after stabbing a garda has been adjourned because a Garda investigation into the incident has not yet been completed.

Insp Senan Ryan applied to have the inquest into the death of 26-year-old Trevor Clancy from Pike Road, Ballinamona, Fermoy, Co Cork adjourned under Section 25 of the Coroners Act.

Mr Clancy stabbed himself to death in the early hours of December 31st last near the bridge in Fermoy despite attempts by his family and gardaí to persuade him to hand over two knives in his possession.

He had earlier stabbed Sgt John Liston in the stomach when Sgt Liston and two colleagues approached him following an altercation with door staff at SGI nightclub on Ashe Quay in Fermoy. The door staff refused him entry because he was carrying the knives.

Mr Clancy had crossed over the bridge in Fermoy and his parents, Éamon and Bernadette, were called by gardaí in an attempt to persuade him to hand over the knives.

Yesterday's inquest at Mallow courthouse heard details of how a GP, Dr Stefan Snell, was called to the scene where he found a man carrying out CPR on Mr Clancy. Dr Snell examined Mr Clancy and pronounced him dead at 1.45am.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said Mr Clancy died from haemorrhage and shock due to stab wounds to the heart.

Insp Ryan told the inquest that an investigation into Mr Clancy's death, being conducted by gardaí from outside Fermoy, was not yet completed and he applied to have the matter adjourned.

He said the investigation would conclude by the end of the year. Coroner for north Cork Dr Michael Kennedy adjourned the inquest until November for mention. He extended his sympathy to Mr Clancy's parents on their loss.

Condolences were also conveyed to the family by Insp Ryan on behalf of An Garda Síochána, particularly given "the close association between the gardaí and the events of that tragic night".

On the night of the incident Sgt Liston was rushed to Cork University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He was discharged from hospital over a week later and is expected to resume duties shortly.