Man threatens to kill himself at Garda Ombudsman office

Mental health staff have intervened to help an agitated man who threatened to kill himself at the officers of the Garda Ombudsman yesterday.

Gardaí removed the Eastern European man from the watchdog’s offices in central Dublin after managers there rang 999 at about 9.30am.

The man, thought to be homeless and in his 20s, walked into the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission’s building at Upper Abbey Street and told reception he wanted to make a complaint aboutgardaí.

A case worker came down and brought the man, who was upset, into a room.

The worker tried to assist the man in filling in a complaint form, but after about 10 minutes his condition deteriorated and the man became more agitated.

The worker contacted a manager, who joined them to see if he could assist.

It is thought the man became more agitated, and started shouting and threatened to kill himself.

At this stage, and in line with internal procedures, GSOC officers immediately rang 999.

Gardaí from nearby Store Street Garda Station called to the offices. They removed the man and detained him at the station.

Sources said this was done for the own man’s safety and that he was placed in the care of the mental health services.

It is not clear what the man was complaining about to GSOC as staff there weren’t able to take down sufficient details.

However, it appears he might have spent the night in a Garda cell and was not happy about it.

It is understood that if the man wants to pursue his complaint that GSOC will try and process it.

People can walk in off the street into GSOC’s offices and do not have to make an appointment in order to lodge a complaint.