Suspect’s death in custody ‘not suspicious’

A GARDA investigation into the death of Donna Cleary’s suspected killer found there were no suspicious circumstances when he became fatally ill in garda custody.

The inquest into the death of Dwayne Foster heard yesterday that a garda inquiry had ruled out any third-party involvement in his death.

Mr Foster was found unresponsive in Coolock Garda Station, Dublin, on March 7, 2006. He was being held for questioning about the fatal shooting two days earlier of young mother-of-one Donna Cleary at a party.

A postmortem later found that the 24-year-old suspect had died from methadone intoxication.

Chief Superintendent John McGee yesterday told the Dublin City Coroner’s Court that a garda inquiry had found no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Foster’s death.

He went on to say this meant there was no third-party involvement in his death and no “third-party methadone.”

The inquest earlier heard from Garda Sergeant Thomas Walsh, who while checking on Mr Foster found him unconscious and unresponsive in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Foster had been prescribed methadone twice while in custody.

Sgt Walsh admitted he had never been taught during garda training about methadone intoxication and the “dangers” of the drug. No guidelines had been issued to gardaí about dealing with suspects on methadone, the inquest also heard.

Sgt Walsh added: “At that time I wouldn’t have been very knowledgeable about it.”

When he checked Mr Foster at 2.30am that morning, the suspect was unresponsive. Sgt Walsh said he shook him, checked for a pulse and breathing, and while doing so, noticed a trickle of blood coming out of the Mr Foster’s nostril.

He called out to colleague Garda Ian Darcy in the station, who then also entered the cell and also checked the suspect for signs of life. The alarm was then raised with the emergency services at 2.45am who then arrived at Coolock Garda Station.

Paramedics, while trying to resuscitate Mr Foster, were also informed that he had earlier been prescribed a Rohypnol tablet to help him sleep.

But Sgt Walsh, who was overseeing the running of the garda station on the night, admitted yesterday that he did not remember telling the emergency services Mr Foster had taken methadone.

Sgt Walsh also admitted that no medical record or custody record was handed over to paramedics as they were bringing the sick suspect by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital.

Paramedic Jonathan Forbes said that when he arrived at the station just after 2.52am, he had found no signs of life when he checked and tried to resuscitate Mr Foster.

There was difficulty trying to get air into the suspect’s lungs, the inquest heard.

Mr Forbes said that Mr Foster’s skin was still warm but that it was blue in colour.

The inquest is expected to conclude later today.