THE GARDA Síochána Ombudsman Commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Garda custody in Tuam, Co Galway, early yesterday.
The 36-year-old man, who was married with children, has been named locally as John Ward from Gilmartin Road, and formerly from Moyne Park, Ballyglunin, Tuam.
Mr Ward was taken ill some hours after his arrest for suspected public order offences in the town.
He was detained at 12.30am and was taken to the local Garda station.
It is understood that a medical team was called to the station when he was found unconscious in his cell, but his condition deteriorated and he was pronounced dead at 4.30am yesterday.
The area where the man was arrested in Shop Street after midnight was sealed off for technical examination, and State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy undertook a preliminary postmortem examination at Tuam Garda station yesterday afternoon.
Officials from the Garda Ombudsman’s office also travelled to Tuam to investigate the man’s death.
In a statement, the Garda Ombudsman confirmed that “a local man, in his 30s, was arrested at about 12.30am on suspicion of public order offences and taken to Tuam Garda station”.
“Some time later, concerns were raised about his condition,” the ombudsman’s office said. “The man was pronounced dead at the station.”
It said that the matter had been referred to it under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and its investigation team had been working in Tuam since early yesterday morning.
Independent Tuam town councillor Owen Ward said he had been speaking only hours before to Mr Ward and said he knew the family well.
“In fact I met John Ward earlier in the night in a public house in the town and he looked okay,” Mr Ward said.
“He is survived by his wife and two sons and a daughter. John lived next door to my brother at Gilmartin Road, Tuam. All we can hope now is that the community will rally around the family,” Mr Ward added.
“I spoke to Supt Gearóid Begley and he was saddened to hear of the tragedy,” he said.
“Personally I don’t think that there is anything suspicious or untoward attached to his death. I think that it is just a horrible tragedy and this young man is now gone from his wife and children,” Mr Ward said.
The body remained at the Garda station yesterday evening for a preliminary postmortem examination, and a full postmortem was due to be carried out at University Hospital, Galway, last night.