The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Garda custody in Tuam, Co Galway, early yesterday.
John T Ward (36), from Gilmartin Road, was taken ill some hours after his arrest for suspected public order offences in the town
Mr Ward, who was married with children, was detained at 12.30am and was taken to the local Garda station.
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. A full postmortem was carried out at University Hospital, Galway, last night.
Officials from the Garda Ombudsman’s office have been in Tuam since yesterday morning investigating Mr Ward’s death.
In a statement, the Garda Ombudsman said that the matter had been referred to it under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
