Man found dead in cell was not on suicide watch
The body of Dean Barry, 24, of Garryglass Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, was discovered on Jan 21, 2012.
As a 16-year-old, he had been involved in the brutal rape of a woman in Cratloe Woods in Co Clare but got temporary release in 2010.
At the time of his death, he was sharing a cell with his brother Mark, who had gone to the exercise yard.
Prison officer Eamonn Stapleton said Dean Barry, along with his brother and a number of other prisoners, had been due to go to the exercise yard.
Mark Barry told the officer Dean Barry was not going to the exercise yard and was staying in his cell to use his PlayStation.
Mr Stapleton said he went to the cell and saw Dean Barry using the PlayStation.
Another officer, Mark Buckley, later found Dead Barry hanging from the top bunk in his cell, at 1.35pm.
A bed sheet was tied around his neck.
Efforts to revive him by prison staff, as well as an ambulance team, failed.
A note written by Dean Barry was found.
Garda Jill Geary said that, after being called to the prison, she preserved the scene and escorted the body to the Mid Western Regional Hospital.
Deputy State pathologist Margot Bolster said a ligature mark on Dean Barry’s neck was caused by a bed sheet tied around his neck with a knot.
Death was caused by asphyxia due to suspension by ligature.
No drugs were found in a blood analysis carried out.
Valerie Barry, mother of the deceased, was told her son was not on suicide watch, but had been under psychiatric care.
Ms Barry said her Dean Barry should have been on suicide watch, given he was getting psychiatric treatment, even though he was sharing a cell with his brother. When he was in prison previously, she said, he had been on suicide watch.
However, Ms Barry said she was not blaming anybody. She said: “His head was not right.”
The jury returned an open verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
