THE GARDA Síochána Ombudsman Commission has launched an investigation following the death of a man who became ill while being arrested by gardaí for an alleged public order incident.
The 58-year-old Dubliner was at an apartment in Clongriffin near Donaghmede in north Dublin late on Thursday. He was allegedly involved in a row at the apartment with a man and a woman known to him.
Local residents heard shouting coming from the apartment and alerted gardaí. When officers arrived at the scene, the man had left the area.
Shortly after midnight, the same man was encountered by gardaí on the street at Bayside Boulevard, Bayside, north Dublin. Gardaí went to speak to him but he became agitated and an effort was made to arrest him. About the time the arrest was taking place the man became ill. Gardaí called for an ambulance. The man was treated at the scene before being taken to Beaumont Hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly before 1am.
A postmortem was carried out yesterday. The Irish Timesunderstands the examination was inconclusive, and the results of toxicology tests are awaited. The Garda immediately notified the ombudsman commission of the man's death. The force is compelled to notify it of the death of any person who dies while, or just after, they have been in contact with its members.
The commission investigates complaints by the public against gardaí. It also investigates any case involving loss of life or serious injury when members of the force are involved, even if they are off-duty. A separate Garda investigation has also begun into the man’s death.
