Inquest into death of man believed to have killed young mother under fire

A SOLICITOR representing the man believed to have murdered a young mother of a two-year-old boy hit out at the delay in proceeding with his inquest.

Solicitor Michael Finucane told Dublin City Coroner’s Court that almost 15 months after Dwayne Foster died, they knew “absolutely nothing” about the circumstances of his death.

They did not even have an autopsy report on the medical cause of death and there was an obligation on the State to carry out an investigation.

Mr Foster, 24, a chronic heroin and cocaine user who had also suffered from throat cancer, died in Garda custody two days after the shooting of 22-year-old Donna Cleary.

Ms Cleary was shot dead shortly after 2.30am on March 5, 2006, at a house party on Adare Green, Coolock, in north Dublin.

Gardaí believe Mr Foster, from Woodbrook Avenue, Finglas, north Dublin, fired five shots indiscriminately into the house after he and others were refused entry.

He was arrested along with four other people at a house in Kildare less than 24 hours after the shooting.

He died in Garda custody in the early hours of March 7. He had seen a doctor three times in Coolock Garda Station and was treated in Beaumont Hospital.

Deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis carried out a post mortem on the body of Mr Foster and found he died from natural causes.

At yesterday’s adjourned hearing Chief Supt Pat McGee said he carried out an internal police inquiry on Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy’s instructions into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and death of Dwayne Foster.

His investigation was not concerned with the matters that gave rise to Dwayne Foster’s arrest.

Mr Foster died in custody at 3.15am on March 7, 2006 after being brought to Beaumont Hospital from Coolock Garda Station.

He had earlier repeatedly complained of headaches and had been seen by two doctors at the Garda station before being taken for tests to Beaumont Hospital at 9pm the previous night, March 6.

He was discharged at about 10pm after undergoing tests and was returned to Coolock Garda station. He was found unconscious in his cell at 2.30am with blood visible from his nose.

He was brought by ambulance back to the hospital but died at 3.15am.

Adjourning the inquest for mention to July 20, Coroner Dr Brian Farrell expressed sympathy to Dwayne’s mother Margaret and family members who attended the inquest.