Man took own life after query from garda, inquest told

Deceased had received a call from the Garda about a warrant for a man with the same name

Gardaí were met with a language barrier upon calling Slawomir Sawicki and he did not understand what the call was about, the inquest heard. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Gardaí were met with a language barrier upon calling Slawomir Sawicki and he did not understand what the call was about, the inquest heard. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

A man took his own life after receiving a phone call from a Garda about a bench warrant for a man with the same name.

Slawomir Sawicki (46), Kiltipper Gate, Tallaght, Dublin 24, who was from Poland, was pronounced dead on October 26th, 2014.

Dublin Coroner’s Court heard on Monday that Mr Sawicki received a call from the Garda which transpired to have nothing to do with him. Gardaí were seeking a man with the same name and a different date of birth. The matter was in connection with a bench warrant to appear in court.

Gardaí encountered a language barrier upon calling Mr Sawicki and the Polish man did not understand what the call was about, the inquest heard.

READ SOME MORE

Garda Fearghal Foran, of Rathcoole Garda station, said the matter could have been cleared up in minutes. “Garda Muldowney from Clondalkin Garda station had looked to speak to Mr Sawicki and was met with a language barrier at the house. It could not be explained on the phone why he needed to speak to him. I’m sure it would have been cleared up within minutes at the station,” Garda Foran said.

Mr Sawicki’s widow, Iwona Sawicki, said her husband was a Catholic who always believed in truth. He had many Polish friends in Dublin and never spoke about harming himself.

Mr Sawicki’s body was found in the trailer of an articulated truck in a garage area of Toner Transport, Greenogue Industrial Estate on October 26th, 2014.

He was last seen alive entering the industrial estate on CCTV the previous day in a green car at 8.35am.

He used his laptop to log on to an online banking account shortly before 9am.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell returned a verdict of death by suicide.