Inquest hears how language barrier may have played role in death

An inquest has heard how a Polish man took his own life in 2014 after receiving a call from Gardai about a bench warrant for a man with the same name

Slawomir Sawicki (46) of Kiltipper Gate, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was pronounced dead on October 26 2014.

Dublin Coroner’s Court heard he had received a call from Gardai which transpired to have nothing to do with him. Gardai were seeking a man with the same name and a different date of birth. The matter was in connection with a bench warrant to appear in court.

Gardai were met with a language barrier upon calling Mr Sawicki and he did not understand what the call was about, the inquest heard.

Garda Fearghal Foran of Rathcoole Garda Station said the matter could have been cleared up in minutes.

“Gda Muldowney from Clonalkin Garda Station had looked to speak to Mr Sawicki and was met with a language barrier at the house. It could not be explained on the phone why he needed to speak to him. I’m sure it would have been cleared up within minutes at the station,” Gda Foran said.

Mr Sawicki’s wife Iwona Sawicki said her husband was a Catholic who always believed in truth. He had many Polish friends in Dublin and never spoke about harming himself.

Mr Sawicki’s body was found in the trailer of an articulated truck in a garage area of Toner Transport, Greenogue Industrial Estate on October 26 2014.

He was last seen alive entering the industrial estate on CCTV the previous day in a green car at 8.35am. He used his laptop to log onto an online banking account shortly before 9am.

The cause of death was self inflicted and Coroner Dr Brian Farrell returned a verdict of death by suicide.