A DUBLIN man arrested on suspicion of "joy riding" was found unconscious about seven hours later in a cell at the Bridewell Garda Station and died two days later, an inquest heard yesterday.
In the Dublin Coroner's Court yesterday, two gardai insisted Mr Kenneth Moore (23), of Plunkett Avenue, Finglas West, had refused to be removed from the car which had crashed into a wall.
The inquest heard Mr Moore and his brother, Mark, were taken to Finglas Garda Station on March 22nd, 1994, following their, arrest at North Road, Finglas, at 3.30 p.m.
Mr Moore was later escorted to a holding cell at the Bridewell Garda Station at about 5 a.m. to await an appearance in the District Court that morning.
But when Sgt George Dalton and Garda Damien Gantly went to his cell at about 10.45 a.m. the man was unconscious. He was taken to the Mater Hospital and died on March 25th after being transferred to Beaumont Hospital.
Garda Gantly told the inquest that he pulled into the forecourt of the Burmah garage at Ways Cross, on the North Road, on March 22nd. He noticed a car with its lights off and engine running. He told the man to turn off the ignition, but he drove away towards Ashbourne.
Later, as he approached the Janelle motor company premises at about 55 m.p.h. he saw the car going out of control and hitting a wall sideways.
At the crash scene be saw Mr Moore sitting upright and facing forward in the driver's seat. He was not wearing a seat belt. Garda Gantly asked him if he was injured. He said he was all right.
When asked who owned the car, the man said it was a friend's car he had borrowed for the night. Garda Gantly asked him to explain why the driver's door lock was pulled out and the ignition wired.
After asking him and his passenger, Mr Mark Moore, if they were sure they were not injured and telling them an ambulance was on the way, Mr Kenneth Moore said he was "OK" and refused to go in an ambulance.
At 10.45 am. he went to the Bridewell Garda Station's holding section to collect Mr Moore for court. He went to the cells with Sgt Dalton and saw him lying on a bunk. Sgt Dalton was unable to wake him and said "I think he's unconscious". He left to get a doctor.
Sgt Gantly said he tried to waken the man again but as he did so he appeared to take a fit. The sergeant slid him off the bunk and placed him in the recovery position on the floor.
While he was being taken to the Mater, Mr Moore started snorting and breathing heavily.
Garda Colm Usher said neither of the Moore brothers appeared injured after their crash and both insisted on not taking an ambulance.
He said "We could not force the deceased to go to hospital if he didn't want to, and it was then decided to arrest him and take him to Finglas station."
Mr Francis Rock, an ambulance driver, said he was called to the crash scene at 3.15 a.m. but could not immediately find the location of the accident. Later, a returning Garda patrol car coming from the scene met them. But then a call came from the ambulance base at Tara Street cancelling the original request.
Mr Christopher Emerson said he was employed as a security man at North Road Commercials when he heard a loud bang at about 3 a.m.
He saw the car crashed into a nearby field wall and saw the driver, who appeared dazed, being assisted out of the car by Garda Gantly.
"The deceased was standing up and not manhandled or abused. The driver was a bit groggy and looked like he was drunk. He had no cuts or bruises but was able to get out, not straight away but when the garda told him," said Mr Emerson.
Dr Brian Farrell, the Dublin City Coroner, adjourned the inquest until April 1st to hear 20 witnesses listed for hearing.