A CORONER has recorded an open verdict in the case of a detective garda who was discovered lying dead at Garda Headquarters with a gunshot wound to his head, an inquest has heard.
The detective was discovered lying on the floor of an office at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Harcourt Square by a colleague just after 6am on May 17th, 2007, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Next to his foot lay his personal issue firearm, a SIG Sauer semi-automatic pistol. The detective had been out socialising in two Dublin City Centre pubs on the evening of May 16th celebrating a colleague's promotion and was his usual, good-humoured self, the inquest heard. He left the celebrations at 10pm and made his way back to Harcourt Square.
There was no evidence of third-party involvement in the death and no evidence that the gun was in any way defective, investigating officer, Sgt Ciaran McCarthy told the coroner, Dr Brian Farrell.
The coroner told the inquest that the fatal wound was self-inflicted, but said he was unable to record a verdict of death by suicide as the detective garda was intoxicated at the time of death.
Dr Farrell recorded an open verdict and expressed his sympathies and condolences to the detective's family and colleagues.