Family angry at decision not to prosecute

THE family of a young man who was found hanging in a garda cell yesterday branded as “disgraceful” a decision not to prosecute anyone in relation to his death.

Terence Wheelock, aged 20, from Summerhill in Dublin’s north inner city, died three months after he was discovered in the cell at Store Street Garda Station.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has ruled that no prosecutions be taken in relation to the death. The decision was based on an internal garda investigation.

Both Mr Wheelock’s family Labour TD Joe Costello said an internal probe was not satisfactory.

Responding to the decision not to take any prosecution, a Wheelock family member yesterday said it was “disgraceful.”

He said the family intended to give a detailed response in the coming days.

Mr Costello said the State could not “get away” with conducting an internal garda inquiry: “The State is obliged under the European Convention of Human Rights... to conduct an independent inquiry into all deaths in custody.”

A garda spokesman said they could not comment on whether or not any internal garda disciplinary proceedings were being considered.