The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 22-year-old man who became unwell while being arrested by gardaí during a drugs search. He subsequently died in hospital.
David O'Mahony took ill as gardaí were trying to arrest him at his house at McSwiney Villas, Gurranabraher, on Cork's northside at about 7.30pm on Wednesday night. The emergency services were then notified.
Two ambulances with paramedics and a rapid response vehicle with a doctor were sent to the scene where they worked on Mr O'Mahony and attempted to revive him on the way to Cork University Hospital (CUH). But he died there shortly after 9pm.
The Garda Press Office confirmed that gardaí had begun a search under warrant of a private house when a 22-year-old occupant became ill and was taken by ambulance to CUH where he later died.
"In view of the circumstances, the matter has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission . . . The scene is currently preserved pending arrival of the GSOC Investigation Team," noted the statement.
The Irish Times understands that five officers from the Cork City Divisional Drugs Squad were searching the house when the incident occurred.
Mr O'Mahony was from Glenamoy Lawn in Mayfield, also on Cork's northside, but had been living at McSwiney Villas in recent weeks.
Local gardaí preserved the scene overnight and investigators from the ombudsman commission then began an examination of the house.
Meanwhile, Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster carried out a postmortem on the dead man at CUH. It is expected the results of Dr Bolster's examination, including some toxicology tests, will determine the direction of the inquiry.
