The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is to open it first ever public-interest investigation to inquire into the death of Dublin man Terence Wheelock (20) who was found hanging in a Garda cell in 2005.
In a statement, the independent investigative body said it had decided that it is "desirable, in the public interest, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Terence Wheelock on September 16th 2005. The Wheelock family has been informed of this decision."
A split jury at an inquest into Mr Wheelock's death earlier this month recorded a verdict of death by suicide.
Mr Wheelock died at the Mater hospital in Dublin. He had spent three months in a coma after he was found unconscious in Store Street Garda station on June 2nd 2005.
Gardaí told the inquest that he had attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms. His family continues to dispute this and claims he was mistreated in Garda custody.
Following the inquest, Mr Wheelock's family made a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
Publishing the terms of reference for its inquiry, the Garda Ombudsman's office said it is necessary to investigate "any failure by any member of the Garda Síochána in allowing for the presence of the cord/ligature in the cell and any act or omission by [Garda] member(s) surrounding Mr Wheelock's arrest and detention that may have contributed to the death of Mr Wheelock".
The investigation will be the first one undertaken by the Ombudsman Commission under Section 102 (4) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005. This law allows for investigations "in the public interest" without the need for the body to have received a complaint regarding alleged Garda conduct.
Senior investigating officer Brian Doherty has been appointed to lead the investigation.
The commission accepts complaints about any incident involving members of the Garda once the incident took place within a six-month period of the complaint being made. The commission can, in special circumstances, and in cases where it believes there is an issue of significant public importance, waive the six-month deadline.