Investigation as man dies during restraint and arrest by gardaí

Gardaí refer case to Gsoc after man dies having crashed car and forcibly entered houses

The Garda confirmed it had referred the case to Gsoc. The scene were the car crashed and the location where Daniel Morris died were sealed off. Photograph: Alan Betson
The Garda confirmed it had referred the case to Gsoc. The scene were the car crashed and the location where Daniel Morris died were sealed off. Photograph: Alan Betson

Investigations are under way into the death of a man during his arrest by gardaí after he crashed his car in west Dublin and forced his way into nearby houses.

Gardaí were called to the scene on Friday night and in the process of restraining and arresting the man he became unresponsive and died.

The man's death has been referred for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc). It investigates any cases where a person had died or suffered injury while in contact with gardaí.

The dead man was named on Sunday night as Daniel Morris (35), Allentown Drive, Tallaght.

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He is believed to have been driving his silver Volvo S40 when it crashed into a steel barrier at Limekiln Avenue, Greenhills, Walkinstown, at 9pm on Friday.

He then abandoned the car and made his way on foot to nearby Templemanor Close.

“[He] knocked on the door of a number of houses and forced his way into two houses on Templemanor Drive,” the Garda said in a statement.

“Gardaí arrived at the scene and the man became aggressive, Gardaí were required to arrest and restrain him.

“As he was being removed from the house he became unresponsive and medical assistance was called. He was taken to Tallaght hospital and was later pronounced dead.”

The Garda confirmed it had referred the case to Gsoc. The scene were the car crashed and the location where Mr Morris died were sealed off on Friday night.

Both locations have since undergone examination by Garda crime-scene examiners and Garda forensic collision investigators.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or who were in the Templemanor area between 9pm and 10pm on Friday to contact them at Crumlin Garda station on 01-666-6200.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times