An inquiry into the circumstances of the arrest and detention of Brian Rossiter (14), who fell unconscious while in Garda custody and later died, is being finalised, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell confirmed yesterday.
He said senior counsel Hugh Hartnett and his team had completed hearing evidence in their inquiry, and he expected to receive a copy of the report soon.
"My understanding is that the evidence is completed and Mr Hartnett is now writing up his report. I believe it is a complex process, but I have no doubt that as soon as he has it he will make it available to me."
Rossiter was found unconscious in a cell at Clonmel Garda station on the morning of September 11th, 2002, following his arrest by gardaí at about 9.30pm on the previous night on suspicion of having committed a public order offence in the town.
He was rushed to St Joseph's hospital in Clonmel. He was later moved to Cork University Hospital, where he died on September 13th. A postmortem revealed that he died of head injuries.
Meanwhile Cork city coroner Dr Myra Cullinane yesterday adjourned an inquest into the death pending the completion of Mr Hartnett's inquiry.
Dr Cullinane listed the case for February 22nd, when she expects to fix a date for hearing.
Yesterday, Insp John Quilter told Cork City Coroner's Court that he had received a report from the superintendent in Clonmel that the Hartnett inquiry had been completed. It was envisaged that the report would be published by the end of this month.