Garda Ombudsman investigating Castlebar death

Achill man dies in Garda custody after incident outside Castlebar bar


Garda Ombudsman investigating death

Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

The Garda Ombudsman is investigating the death of an Achill man who died in Garda custody in the early hours of Thursday morning last. The investigation is awaiting the toxicology results of a post mortem before determining the cause of death.
Padraic O’Donnell (39) died in Garda custody after he was being brought to Castlebar Garda Station in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Gardaí were called to a disturbance in Cox’s Bar on Linenhall Street in Castlebar at 1am and were transferring Mr O’Donnell to the station when he became unresponsive as the Garda car arrived at the station. Efforts were made to revive the 39 year-old, and he was transferred to Mayo General Hospital, but pronounced dead a short time later.
Padraic O’Donnell, was a native of Ashleam on Achill island and was a carpenter and a single father of one. His Funeral Mass took place in Derreens Church on Saturday afternoon and he was buried afterwards in Glencoe Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Patrick and Peggy, his five-year-old daughter and his four brothers and two sisters.
A post-mortem was performed by the deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis on Thursday afternoon, but the initial examination proved inconclusive in determining the cause of death. The results of the toxicology tests are expected to be available in the next four to six weeks.
Following Mr O’Donnell’s death, the Gardaí informed the Ombudsman Commission of his death, as it is obliged to do so where a death occurs to a person while in Garda custody. The area outside the garda station where the patrol car had parked was declared a forensic examination area.
A spokesperson for the Garda Ombudsman told The Mayo News that the investigation was continuing, and that a number of witnesses had been spoken to at this stage. The spokesperson added that the Gardaí SíochΡna is keen to establish Mr O’Donnell’s movements on the night and is appealing for people who were in Cox’s at the time or who may have seen Mr O’Donnell in the area to make contact.

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