Garda 'stonewalling' Wheelock family

Terence Wheelock (20) died on the 16 September 2005, three months after he was found unconscious in a cell in Store St Garda station. According to the Garda Síochána Terence tried to hang himself. The Wheelock family said Terence wasn't depressed and had no suicidal tendencies. Since June, the family's solicitor, Yvonne Banbury, has been asking the Garda Síochána and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell for the information from the internal garda inquiry that has been undertaken; access to Terence's clothing and the ligature he hung himself with; and an explanation for bruising and a cut he had when admitted to the Mater hospital. In those 16 weeks they have received nothing says Banbury, "the Garda are stonewalling us". On 20 September, she and an engineer were allowed to examine the cell in which Terence had been detained. When they got there they realised the cell had been renovated and the wall fixture from which Terence was meant to have hung himself was gone. She says they now have no choice but to apply to the High Court for discovery after they have started civil proceedings. If successful discovery will allow them to gain access to the documents and items they want. Terence Wheelock was arrested with three others on 2 June at 12pm, on suspicion of stealing a car. They were taken to Store St Garda station and detained in cells. The friends he was arrested with say he was in good spirits in the station. A statement Yvonne Banbury took from a person detained in Store St at the same time as Wheelock describes him as singing in his cell. It is unlikely he would have been apprehensive about facing a possible criminal charge as he had an alibi accounting for his movements at the time the car was stolen. Two hours after being brought in, at 2.40pm, he was found unconscious in his cell. Gardaí say that he was checked five times between 12.25pm and 2.40pm. A statement from another detainee at the station says they heard suspicious noises coming from the cell. The gardaí say they found him with a ligature around his neck – apparently this was the cord from his tracksuit bottoms. In order for him to hang himself he would have had to kneel on the ground and tie the ligature to a wall fixture that was there. The gardaí tried to resuscitate him and the fire brigade brought him to the Mater. He never regained consciousness and was put on a life support machine. The gardaí notified the family of his death and brought them to the wrong hospital. The Garda say this was a "misunderstanding between the gardaí and the ambulance control". Banbury has requested access to the ligature and his clothing, which were taken away by the gardaí as soon as he was admitted to the hospital, so they can conduct independent forensic analysis on them. She has not heard anything back in this regard. On 20 September an independent pathologist conducted a post-mortem on the body, they have not yet received that report. Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy appointed Detective Superintendent Oliver Hanley, from Dun Laoghaire station to conduct an internal inquiry into the circumstances of Wheelock's death. But the family and Yvonne Banbury are not satisfied with this, " it's a very one-sided investigation" ? Hanley served as a guard for about 15 years in Store St station. The family and Banbury have not been given any information about what is happening in this inquiry, despite repeated requests for information to the Garda and the Minister for Justice. Last week there was a report in the Irish Times that a new independent inquiry will be set up. Banbury says neither she nor the family have heard anything about this. She says that "there is not much point in engaging in correspondence so we are going to the High Court." The Garda Press office said their internal investigation has not concluded. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform said they cannot comment on an internal investigation, but that the matter is "receiving attention." Emma Browne