Foul play ruled out in death of garda

Gardaí investigating the death from gunshot wound of a detective in a Dublin Garda station say they are not seeking anybody else…

Gardaí investigating the death from gunshot wound of a detective in a Dublin Garda station say they are not seeking anybody else in relation to the matter.

The 48-year-old detective garda from north Dublin was found dead by a colleague in his office yesterday morning at Harcourt Square, the Garda's Dublin metropolitan region headquarters.

It is understood the deceased man was working an overnight shift as part of his duties with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the force's serious crimes squad. When his colleague arrived at work yesterday just before 6.45am, the dead man's remains were discovered in an office in the building.

He had sustained a single gunshot wound, which is believed to have been inflicted with his own Garda weapon. The area was immediately sealed off for forensic examination and the dead man's wife and extended family were informed. The man's wife, sisters and mother met members of senior Garda management in the hours following the discovery of his remains.

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Gardaí say while the investigation is still at an early stage, they believe it was a tragedy in which nobody else was involved. However, they have still not ruled out the possibility that the dead man's weapon was discharged accidentally.

The Harcourt Square depot, situated on Harcourt Street in Dublin's south inner city, houses the offices of a number of specialist Garda units including the Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and NBCI.

A Garda spokesman confirmed an inquiry into the matter is ongoing. However, he said that there would be no further comment.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times