Considerable "anguish" has been caused to the family of a man who died in Garda custody by a proposal by the Chief State Solicitor's Office to carry out a "psychiatric autopsy" despite no history of mental illness, an inquest has heard.
The proposal has since been withdrawn, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Terence Wheelock (20), Summerhill, Dublin, was found unconscious in a cell at Store Street Garda station last June after he apparently attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms.
He was rushed to the Mater hospital, but never regained consciousness.
He died on September 16th, 2005. His family has maintained that the circumstances of his death were different and that he was mistreated while in a cell.
An inquest into his death had been adjourned in November to allow the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, to view photographs said to show abrasions and minor lacerations to Mr Wheelock's body.
Seán Gillane, barrister for the family, told the court yesterday that he had received correspondence from the Chief State Solicitor's office on Thursday proposing that a "psychiatric autopsy" be carried out on Mr Wheelock. "It caused the family considerable upset over the weekend. . . The inquest has heard evidence that he did not have any psychological history, that's why the suggestion has caused such anguish to the family."
Karl Gordon, solicitor for the Chief State Solicitor's office, said the proposal had now been withdrawn. Mr Gordon said his office may still enlist Dr Harry Kennedy from the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin to compile a "general" report on the impact the drugs in Mr Wheelock's system may have had on his actions.
Prof Cassidy previously told the inquest that a toxicology screening showed that cannabis and benzodiazepines, a sedative drug, were in his system.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he would read such a report if it was presented to him but was not requesting it.
The inquest heard yesterday that Dr Cassidy was still considering the photographs presented to the court by the Wheelock family's legal team that are said to depict marks and minor lacerations to his body.
Mr Gillane said these pictures were taken by a clinical photographer at the Mater hospital the day after his admission.
Prof Cassidy is also considering intensive care unit sheets from his admission to the Mater.
The inquest was adjourned until March 28th when Dr Cassidy is expected to have completed her report based on the new evidence.