The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has received a complaint from the family of Terence Wheelock about his death and it is currently considering opening a formal inquiry into the matter.
A spokesman for the commission said that he could not confirm if a complaint had been received from the Wheelocks.
However, the family has confirmed that it lodged an official complaint with the commission on Tuesday about the death of the 20-year-old following a period in custody at Store Street Garda station in Dublin.
The commission accepts complaints about any incident involving members of the Garda once the incident took place within a six-month period of the complaint being made.
Mr Wheelock's death occurred in September 2005. He fell into a coma in a cell in Store Street in June of that year from which he never awoke. He died in Dublin's Mater hospital.
However, the commission can, in special circumstances, and in cases where it believes there is an issue of significant public importance, waive the six-month deadline.
The Irish Times has learned that the commission had a representative in attendance at the final sessions of Mr Wheelock's inquest, which ended in Dublin yesterday.
The jury returned a verdict of death by suicide.
The commission will next week conduct a review of the case with a view to deciding if a full investigation by it is warranted.
It is understood that an investigation could still go ahead despite yesterday's suicide verdict.
Informed sources said last night that the Wheelock family would most likely be informed in the next fortnight if the commission intends to proceed with an inquiry.
The dead man's family is strongly in favour of such an independent investigation taking place.
The commission began operating in May. It has replaced the Garda Complaints Board as the agency which investigates complaints from the public against Garda members.
Unlike the complaints board, it has its own team of independent investigators, and it is not dependent on members of the force to carry out its front-line investigative function.
