An inquest has heard that there will be no prosecutions over the death of a Dublin man in Garda custody.
Terence Wheelock (20), from Summerhill, was found unconscious in his cell in Store Street Garda Station last June after attempting to hang himself with the cord from his tracksuit bottoms.
He never regained consciousness and died on September 16th in the Mater Hospital.
At the opening of the inquest into his death, Mr Wheelock's family heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions will not be taking the case any further.
Mr Wheelock's family are planning protests at the Dáil next month to mark the dead man's 21st birthday.
The family is now determined to have Mr Wheelock's belongings returned — including clothing and the alleged ligature — to be examined by forensic laboratories in England.
During the hearing, Sean Gillane, representing the Wheelocks, accused Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy of hindering their attempts to collect his personal effects.
Marion Berry, representing An Garda Síochána, said the force recognised the family's anxiety. She said: "The retention of personal effects for the moment was, one, concern of possible prosecution and, two, to protect the integrity of any evidence."
The case will be mentioned again in the Coroner's Court on March 7th.