THE GARDA ombudsman has begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man while in Garda custody in Dublin this week.
Hugh Brien (52) from Orchardstown Drive, Rathfarnham, died after being in custody at Store Street Garda station, in the city centre. Mr Brien was arrested on Tuesday night at about 8.30pm for a public order offence.
He was brought to Store Street where he was incarcerated in a cell. When he was checked by the garda on duty at 1.30am yesterday he was unresponsive. Gardaí attempted to resuscitate him and Mr Brien was rushed to the Mater hospital in Dublin. However, he was pronounced dead at 2.30am.
A postmortem is expected to take place today at the city morgue in Marino. Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan referred the death to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission for investigation under Section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
Section 102 stipulates that the Garda Commissioner shall refer a death if it appears to him that circumstances “indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”.
In practice, all deaths in custody are referred to the ombudsman.