A Garda investigation into the death of a man in custody last June has been completed, and a file on the matter has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Terence Wheelock (21), from Dublin's north inner city, was found unconscious in a cell in Store Street Garda station last June after he apparently attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms.
He was rushed to the Mater hospital by ambulance, but never regained consciousness. He died on September 16th.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has received a preliminary report from gardaí on the incident.
He is awaiting a full report before he makes a decision on whether a public inquiry into the circumstances of the death should be established.
The dead man's family has called for the establishment of a public inquiry similar to that under way under Hugh Hartnett SC which is investigating the death in Garda custody in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, of 14-year-old Brian Rossiter in 2002.
Mr Wheelock's family believes there were marks on his body, and that he may have been harmed in the period before he was found in his cell.
The family, from Summerhill, Dublin, insists that Mr Wheelock suffered bruising and sustained a cut. Neither gardaí nor fire officers supported this allegation.
While a Garda inquiry was set up to look into the circumstances surrounding the death, family members claim they have not been given access to its findings or the statements which were made.
The Wheelocks have asked why the cell Mr Wheelock died in was renovated immediately after his death.
They have also queried how he could have hung himself from a panel in his cell that was just a few feet off the floor.
They say he was not suicidal and claim a public inquiry is needed to address their concerns.
Mr Wheelock was brought to Store Street station after he was arrested with others at a house in the north inner city on suspicion of handling a stolen car.
When contacted yesterday, Anne Wheelock, a sister of the dead man, declined to comment. Other members of the Wheelock family were unavailable.
Tony Gregory TD (Ind), who has raised the case a number of times in the Dáil on behalf of the family, said that because Mr Wheelock had died in Garda custody all the information gathered by the authorities should be published or made available to the family.
"If that happens in the form of a public inquiry, then so be it. It could also take place some other way that satisfied the family and all involved that the full facts had been disclosed," he said.
Mr McDowell has said Mr Wheelock was found hanging from a ligature which was tied around his neck and suspended from an alarm panel in the cell.
While work had been done after the death to recess this panel into the wall, photographs were taken of the ligature hanging from the panel before the work was carried out.
The work was carried out because the cell was in daily use, and gardaí were anxious that the panel could not be used in the same way as Mr Wheelock had apparently used it to take his own life.
Mr McDowell has already told the Dáil he believes Mr Wheelock was responsible for his own death.
