Family wants ‘the truth’ about son’s death

ESTHER WHEELOCK said her family will not rest until they get answers to her son’s death.

Terence, aged 20, died three months after he was found hanging in a garda cell in June of last year.

“My heart is broken. We’re all stressed out. I still will not believe that my son did that to himself. I want answers as to what happened,” she said.

Esther, from Dublin’s north inner city and a mother of 11 said her son was not suicidal.

“He had no form of depression. He was happy-go-lucky. It’s tearing my life upside down. I’m definitely not giving up on my son.”

Terence was one of four arrested on June 2 last in connection with the robbery of a car the previous night.

He was detained at Store Street Garda Station at 12.25pm that day.

Gardaí said that between that time and 2.40pm his cell was checked five times.

At 2.40pm a garda found Terence lying unconscious near a side wall with a ligature tied around his neck.

The ligature had been somehow secured to a fixture in the wall. He died on September 16.

An internal garda inquiry was set up and a file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Last week the DPP decided no prosecutions would be taken in connection with the death.

Terence’s brother Laurence said the family was disgusted with the decision.

“From day one we wanted an independent public inquiry. All we have is questions. We’re going to stage more protests and lobby more politicians until we get an independent public inquiry. Whatever the truth is, we want the truth. Whatever happened on June 2 in Store Street Station, we want to know, that’s all.”

He said that “even with hindsight” they could not see anything to suggest that Terence was suicidal.

Esther’s eldest son Marcus said Terence was “no angel.”

He said: “He was not in unfamiliar surroundings in a cell. He was in prison before, he was able for jail. But he never suffered depression and had nothing to do with robbing the car.”

The family’s solicitors hired a British pathologist, Dr Carl Gray, to carry out a post-mortem on Terence.

The report details extensive bruising on Terence’s body - injuries which have not yet been explained.

Gardaí have said they could see no reason for these bruises and said they were not noticed by either gardaí or ambulance crew.

The family is looking to have the results of that report examined by the Dublin City Coroner in the upcoming inquest.

The inquest is to be mentioned in the coroner’s court next Friday, during which a hearing date may be set.

The family will seek an adjournment as they have High Court proceedings for mention in March in relation to an attempt to have Terence’s clothes returned to them.