Inquiry into death of teenager in custody
The 19-year-old was taken to hospital after he took ill inside a Dublin garda station.
A post mortem examination was carried out yesterday.
Garda headquarters said the post mortem revealed the man did not receive any fatal physical injuries prior to his arrest.
But a spokesman said toxicology tests will have to be carried before a definite cause of death is established.
The results of the tests will not be available until next week, the spokesman said.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Tony Hickey has, in the meantime, appointed a detective superintendent to carry out an investigation into the death of the man, whom gardaí had not named by last night.
He was arrested late on St Stephen’s Day in the Dolphin’s Barn area of south Dublin under public order legislation and taken to Kilmainham Garda station.
At some point he was removed to Saint James’s Hospital, where he died.
The post mortem examination was carried out yesterday by the Deputy State Pathologist, Marie Cassidy.
It is standard practice for a senior garda to be called in to investigate a death in custody.
The gardaí are usually from outside the division where the death happened.
The 19-year-old is the third young person to fall fatally ill in garda custody in recent months.
In September, a man in his early 20s died while in custody in Galway.
A superintendent was appointed to investigate, but no foul play was suspected.
Also in September, 14-year-old Brian Rossiter, from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, collapsed in a cell and died two days later.
He had been picked up for public order offences, but his death was linked to a beating he received two days previously.
