The family of a young man found hanging in a Garda cell suffered severe upset after a letter was sent from the State seeking to investigate his mental condition, an inquest heard today.
Sean Gillane, a barrister for the family of Terence Wheelock (20) from Dublin's Summerhill, said last Thursday they received a communication from the Chief State Solicitor's Office, which stated they wanted to carry out a "psychiatric autopsy".
"That was a communication which caused considerable concern," Mr Gillane told the brief sitting of the Dublin City Coroner's Court, which was packed with Mr Wheelock's family. "It was an unfortunate development."
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he believed the letter may have meant to state psychological autopsy. However, Mr Gillane said: "That proposal is no longer live and the State do not wish to pursue it."
Karl Gordon, from the Chief State Solicitor's Office, said they had changed their minds and would not now be seeking a report from Dr Harry Kennedy at the Central Mental Hospital.
Mr Gillane said the late Mr Wheelock did not have any psychiatric illness or link to the Central Mental Hospital.
"The letter caused the family considerable upset over the weekend," he said, adding there was a lingering suspicion among the family that a psychiatric issue was being raised.
Mr Wheelock was taken into Store Street Garda Station on June 2nd, 2005, alongside another man after they were spotted by gardaí in a stolen car.
The Wheelock family have been questioning the way he was treated in Garda custody. Less than three hours after he was taken into custody, Mr Wheelock was found hanging, with the cord of his tracksuit bottoms lodged around the casing of the cell alarm.
He was pronounced dead on September 16th 2005 in the Mater Hospital after failing to regain consciousness. Cannabis and sleeping tablets were detected in his blood when he was admitted to hospital on June 2nd.
PA