Gardaí to get training for suspects on methadone

MEMBERS of the force look set to be trained on how to monitor and best detain suspects on methadone after proposals made at an inquest into the death of a suspected killer in garda custody.

The inquest into the death of Dwayne Foster concluded yesterday he had died of methadone intoxication after telling a prescribing doctor he was on a methadone programme when he was not.

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.

The jury at Dublin City Coroner’s Court concluded that the 24-year-old had asked for a doctor and told Dr Peadar Kirke he was on a methadone programme but this later proved untrue.

Gardaí found Mr Foster unresponsive in his cell in the early hours of that morning and a postmortem found he had died from methadone intoxication.

After 19 days of hearings, the jury yesterday returned a ‘narrative’ verdict and made a number of recommendations.

The jury called for a “methadone protocol” to be implemented as soon as possible in relation to the holding of detainees in garda stations. Proposals were also made that a “continuity” of written medical information and actions be agreed between relevant parties in relation to holding detainees.

The jury also recommended access be made available to the authorities, out of normal working hours, to check if people were on a methadone treatment list.

The inquest earlier heard that while Mr Foster was in custody he had had four medical consultations, including with two doctors and while also attending the A&E at Beaumont Hospital.

Attending the detainee in the garda station, Dr Kirke had twice prescribed Mr Foster methadone after being told by the suspect he was on a methadone programme. It later emerged he was not.

An independent medical expert said the prescribed amount would have been twice the maximum dosage for a new methadone user.

After being found unconscious in the garda station on the morning of March 7 with no vital signs of life, Mr Foster was brought to Beaumont Hospital. No medical records were passed to emergency services trying to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 3.17am in hospital that morning.

Coroner Brian Farrell yesterday thanked the jury and said their recommendations would be passed to a state-appointed methadone protocol implementation committee.

The family of Mr Foster including his mother, sisters and brothers, expressed relief the inquest was over.

Previous accusations that Mr Foster had been a heroin addict had been proven to be untrue, they said.

The family also said they had never considered an internal garda investigation into Mr Foster’s death as being “independent or adequate”.

The inquest showed “serious questions” had arisen from his death, they said.