Post mortem due on student who died in Naas garda cell

A post mortem is due to be carried out today on the body of a 29-year-old mature student who died after falling ill while in garda custody in Co Kildare yesterday morning.

The man was detained on suspicion of drugs charges on Tuesday night following an earlier raid on his accommodation at NUI Maynooth.

His flatmate had apparently called Gardai to the apartment after the student fell unconscious.

He was taken to hospital, while Gardai secured a search warrant and found cannabis and ecstasy in the premises before arresting and releasing his flatmate pending instructions from the DPP.

The unconscious man, meanwhile, discharged himself from hospital later on Tuesday, but was subsequently arrested by Gardai in Naas and taken into custody.

He then fell ill in his cell at around 5am yesterday morning and was pronounced dead at Naas General Hospital an hour later.

A garda officer from outside the local division has been appointed to investigate the circumstances of the death.

The dead man was in the second year of a community and youth work diploma course and has been described by professors at NUI Maynooth as a good academic performer.