Terence Wheelock

Death after police custody in Ireland

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Terence Wheelock, a 20-year-old Dublin native from Summerhill in the city's north inner district, tragically passed away on 16 September 2005 under circumstances that sparked significant controversy and public discourse. Wheelock's death occurred following his arrest alongside three others on suspicion of car theft, a charge from which he was subsequently exonerated. After being detained at Store Street Garda Station, he was discovered unconscious in his cell just two hours later. The complexities surrounding his custody and subsequent death led to an inquest, culminating on 13 May 2007, when a coroner's jury concluded that his death resulted from suicide. The events leading to and following Wheelock's untimely demise have continued to raise questions about the treatment of detainees and the protocols followed by law enforcement, highlighting a critical moment of scrutiny and calls for reform within the Irish justice system.^[1]

Circumstances leading up to his death

Garda Tadhg O’Leary, from Fitzgibbon Street Garda station, said Gardaí received a phone call from a woman on that day to report a car being brought into a back yard at Sean O’Casey Avenue and being covered with a sheet.

Garda O'Leary had a check run on the black Toyota Yaris, and the owner in Donnybrook confirmed it had been stolen. He later spotted four young men in the car.

Gardaí confirmed all four were surrounded in the square at the front of the house by officers and gave themselves up shortly after midday. The inquest heard Wheelock and another man were brought to Store Street Garda station. At that point, O'Leary said he discovered two bench warrants were in existence for Wheelock and he would have to be held to appear before the District Court. “At the time of the arrest of the youths they were caught red-handed”, he said.^[1]

Death

Wheelock died in hospital on 16 December 2005 after he was found unconscious in a cell in Store Street Garda Station two weeks earlier.

An inquiry by the Garda Ombudsman into Wheelock's death found he was not mistreated in any way in Store Street Garda Station. While no individual Garda was found to be culpable in relation to Wheelock's death, the report identified a number of system failures including the failure to remove the cord from his tracksuit and to properly record details in custody. In addition, the entirety of the GSOC report was not published to the public, in the "public Interest".^[2]

Garda and family views

The Garda Síochána stated that Terence committed suicide while in his cell, hanging himself with a ligature which "was secured to a fixture which is countersunk into the wall".^{[This quote needs a citation]} Kieran Bisset, a member of Dublin Fire Brigade who provide ambulance cover in the Dublin area, said a number of Gardaí were performing CPR on the unconscious man when the Fire Brigade were called after 2:30 p.m. "There was an obvious ligature mark around the front of his neck", he said, adding it was deep and previous experience would indicate it was from a cord or a shoelace.^[1] The Gardaí stated that on observing Terence in the cell they took him into the open cell area where CPR was performed.^[2]

Wheelock's family contested the idea that Terence had hanged himself. His family believes Wheelock died as a result of injuries received from the gardaí while in custody. Larry Wheelock, one of Terence's 10 siblings, claimed his brother was a victim of police brutality.^[2]

Other

The Dublin City Coroner's Court earlier heard that bruising on Mr Wheelock were consistent with medical intervention.^[3]
Dr Maureen Smith from the Forensic Science Laboratory told the court she was unable to generate a DNA profile from the tissue sample she was given from the post mortem. Using blood samples, she determined that blood found on Mr Wheelock's T-shirt was not his blood, but most likely that of a close relative, a matter she said that merited further investigation.^[3]
The Garda press statement mentioned that there was no evidence of any bruising on Terence's body. Gardaí stated they noticed no bruising when Terence Wheelock was strip-searched while being detained at Store Street Garda Station. This was contradicted by his family who saw extensive bruising to his body in the hospital, prompting hospital staff to record photographs of the bruising. The inquest explored the origin of extensive bruising with Dr Marie Cassidy the state pathologist. When shown original Photographs of bruising taken on 3 June 2005, the day after Wheelock's arrest. Cassidy informed the Coroner the photos displayed at the inquest differed and were poorer in quality from the photos supplied to her by investigating Gardaí. This changed her perspective regarding bruising of knuckles, hands and legs and lower back. She agree the bruising of the knuckles could be consistent with defensive wounds or an assault.^[4]
When the family managed to get hold of the custody records the names of the arresting Gardaí had been altered to show another name which Gardaí explained was due to an error. Gardaí stated that this amendment was made at the time of arrival and not later. The Wheelock family claimed they had to make many attempts to recover Terence's clothes for independent forensic examination. These attempts were continually rebuffed. When the family finally received the clothes worn by Terence, they claim the clothing was heavily bloodstained.^[5]
The Garda Commissioner appointed Detective Superintendent Oliver Hanley from Dun Laoghaire Garda Station to look into the events around Terence's death. Hanley served in Store Street station for over fifteen years. Therefore, it has been questioned whether he could be said to be truly independent.^[6]

Reaction

Demonstrations

There were protests in favour of an independent inquiry into the death of Terence Wheelock in many locations including Store Street Garda Station, Dáil Éireann, and the Minister for Justice.^[7]

Investigation

In July 2007, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission announced that it would carry out an investigation into the case. Terence's brother, Larry Wheelock told journalists that an official from the Ombudsman's office had contacted the family to inform them it was to launch an inquiry for various reasons. Among these, he said, were that it is in the public interest to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death; the close nature of the verdict (a four-to-three majority), and the injuries on Terence's body.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Man found dead in garda cell 'caught in stolen car'".
^ ^a ^b ^c "Wheelock case". Garda.ie. 22 June 2005. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Wheelock family rejects inquest verdict". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 13 July 2007.
^ "Photos of Wheellock Injuries Considered". The Irish Times.^{[dead link]}
^ "Prisoner hung himself in Garda cell, inquest decides". independent. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
^ "Workers Solidarity Movement | Anarchist organisation in Ireland". www.wsm.ie. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
^ "Terrence Wheelock March". The Journal. 16 September 2021.
^ "Ombudsman to begin probe into Wheelock prison death". independent. Retrieved 1 June 2021.