Inquiry into death of man in Garda custody

AN investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Garda custody.

The man, named locally as Mark Ward, in his early 30s, walked into a shop in the Green Acres area of Dundalk, Co Louth, in a distressed state shortly after 9.30pm on Tuesday.

It is believed he was naked and gardaí were alerted.

Mr Ward, who was described as being agitated, was detained by officers but became unwell and was rushed by ambulance to hospital.

He was pronounced dead in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda just after 10.30pm on Tuesday.

One local woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “I heard there was a naked man running up the road on Tuesday evening and he was agitated.

“Apparently he went into the shop and had no clothes on and the gardaí were called.

“It is terribly sad. My heart goes out to the man’s family.”

A man, who lives in the area, added: “I heard sirens on Tuesday evening but did not see anything.

“It is a shocking situation.

“I was told he went into the shop naked and the gardaí were alerted.”

The Garda Ombudsman’s office was alerted and several officers from the commission went to the scene late on Tuesday night.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission have launched in investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

The scene at the Avenue Road and Green Acres remained sealed off yesterday.

A postmortem examination on the deceased man is due to take place by state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital.