Almost half of deaths and serious injuries referred to Garda watchdog were people with mental health issues

In 178 of the referrals to Fiosrú, a person with known mental health difficulties was involved, while alcohol was involved in 19 referrals, and 13 involved drug use.

Almost half of referrals by gardaí of deaths and serious injury to the police ombudsman Fiosrú last year involved a person with mental health difficulties, while two investigations from the watchdog identified an “apparent criminal offence”.

In its first ever report on incidents of death and serious injury, the body previously known as Gsoc said there were 37 statutory referrals of such incidents last year, involving 21 people who died, and a further 21 who were seriously harmed.