The Garda Síochána has apologised to the family of a young man for breaking the news that he had committed suicide to them over the telephone.
Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday that the 25-year-old Galway man, living and working in Dublin after studying at UCD, hanged himself at his house in Cabra on November 20th last year.
Three gardaí investigated and attended the scene of the death.
While in the house, the most senior officer, a Garda sergeant, answered the young man's mobile phone. It was his parents, and the sergeant informed them their son had committed suicide, the court heard.
Garda Angela McFadden yesterday apologised to the man's family for her senior colleague's actions, as he was not present in court.
"The sergeant deeply regrets answering the phone and is deeply sorry to the family," she told the court.
Garda McFadden had already been in touch with the man's local Garda station in Galway, and representatives were en route to the family home to inform them of the death.
The man's first cousin, a local garda in Galway, told the court he had been driving to the family home to inform his relatives of his cousin's death when they learned the news over the telephone.
He accepted the Garda apology on behalf of the family.
"I will accept that it was a total misjudgment by the sergeant," he told the inquest.
The inquest also heard that the young man's death came as a shock to all who knew him, as there had been no outward sign that he was depressed or unhappy in any way.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said a farewell note was found at the man's home. He recorded a verdict of death by suicide.