An inquest jury has returned a verdict of suicide in the case of a young Dublin man, Terence Wheelock, who died three months after he was found unconscious in a cell in a Garda station.
Esther (centre) the mother of Terence Wheelock leaving Dublin Coroner's Court today. Image: Niall Carson/PA.
The Dublin City Coroner said he will write to garda management urging sweeping reforms of the way suspects are detained in custody following today's case.
Dr Brian Farrell said he would make four recommendations following the death of Terence Wheelock who hanged himself in a cell in the capital's Store Street Garda Station.
The 20-year-old was found near dead in June 2005 with the cord of his tracksuit bottoms wrapped around his neck.
He slipped into a coma and died three months later in the Mater Hospital.
At an inquest into his death a jury returned a majority decision that he died by suicide.
About a dozen members of the Wheelock family, including Mr Wheelock's brother Larry who has campaigned for an independent inquiry into the death, were visibly upset when the jury's decision was read out.
Mr Wheelock's mother Esther wept outside the coroner's office.
The seven jurors offered four recommendations which Dr Farrell said he would pass on to gardaí.
The jury said CCTV should be fitted in all garda stations as soon as possible to monitor all areas where suspects maybe kept. At present there are only pilot projects in stations in Dublin.
They also recommended that with immediate effect suspects being detained should be checked every 15 minutes regardless of their physical or mental state when brought to the station.
The jury said prisoners should also be given disposable clothing when placed in cells and they ask that external independent health and safety officers be allowed to carry out audits of stations every year.
Outside the coroner's court in Store Street, Larry Wheelock said the events of the last two years had been extremely painful for the whole family.
"We will gather our thoughts and consider where we will go from here, but it's far from over," he said.
Mr Wheelock claimed there is additional information regarding the events around his brother's death which were not discussed during the inquest.
"It's a hard time for the family, we can take comfort from the fact that three people did not believe what was shoved down their neck in the courtroom," he said.
"It's very painful, it will always be very painful, but we are a close family.
"We are there for each other as Terence is as well we will always be there for each other."
PA