GARDAÍ ARE to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after releasing without charge a man arrested for questioning about the death of a 41-year-old father-of-four who collapsed after being ejected from a pub in Cork city.
The man, in his 40s, was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act when he presented himself by arrangement at Gurranebraher Garda station shortly after noon on Saturday for questioning about the death of Anthony Hennessy.
Mr Hennessy, who was living in Gurranebraher but was originally from Cushing Place in Farranree, on Cork's northside, took ill and collapsed after he was ejected by staff from the Mo Chúisle bar at the bottom of Blarney Street at around 11.45pm on Thursday.
Gardaí had been called by staff at the bar prior to Mr Hennessy's collapse.
When they arrived, they found the emergency services were already there and Mr Hennessy was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.
However, he died at 1.45am on Friday.
State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy carried out a postmortem examination, which was concluded late on Friday night.
However, gardaí decided against releasing her findings for operational reasons. They later arrested a man for questioning.
Gardaí are focusing their investigation on how Mr Hennessy, who refused to leave the pub when asked to do so, was removed from the premises and whether or not he may have been restrained in a manner that affected his breathing.
Gardaí have been studying CCTV footage from inside and outside the bar, which is believed to have been of assistance to detectives in trying to establish what led to Mr Hennessy's collapse after he was ejected.
The owners of the bar are co-operating with the investigation.
Gardaí have also spoken to five people involved in removing Mr Hennessy from the bar after staff and other customers became concerned about his behaviour.
Mr Hennessy is survived by his partner, Yvonne, and his daughters, Rebecca, Ericka, Megan and Chloe, who were being comforted by relatives and friends over the weekend.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later this week.
