Three Mayo deaths under investigation

INVESTIGATION Members of the GSOC Investigations Unit leave Westport Garda Station yesterday afternoon (Monday). Pic: Conor McKeown

Three Mayo deaths under investigation

Anton McNulty

The Garda SíochΡna Ombudsman Commission is investigating the sudden death of a man in Garda custody – one of three separate investigations into deaths that occurred in Mayo over a 48-hour period.
The GSOC investigation concerns the death of a Westport man in his 70s in Westport Garda Station yesterday morning (Monday). Meanwhile, the HSE is investigating the sudden death of a resident of Bungalow 3 at the Áras Attracta care facility in Swinford on Sunday night. Elsewhere, gardaí in Ballina are seeking the assistance of the public in their investigation into a road-traffic accident that claimed the life of a motorcyclist on Sunday afternoon.

Westport
A local resident, who is not being named at this point, took ill suddenly while being conveyed to Westport Garda Station shortly before 11am yesterday. The scene was attended by three ambulance crews and a local doctor, but attempts to save the man’s life were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The GSOC investigation, launched yesterday afternoon, is normal procedure following a death in Garda custody.
The man’s body was taken from Westport Garda Station shortly before 5.30pm yesterday, and a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out yesterday evening.

Swinford
Separately, the HSE yesterday launched an investigation after a resident of the Áras Attracta care centre in Swinford died in the centre on Sunday night.
The female, who was in her 50s, and a resident of Bungalow 3, had entered a common kitchen area to get something to eat shortly before 10pm on Sunday. She got into difficulty swallowing a piece of food and, despite staff coming to her aid and using specialist suction equipment to deal with choking incidents, they were unable to revive her and she died at the scene.
The emergency services were called to the scene and the Coroner for East Mayo was notified of the death.
In a statement, the HSE said it had informed all relevant authorities, including HIQA and the Health and Safety Authority. The HSE also expressed condolences to the resident’s family.
An assessment is being carried out to establish the facts surrounding the incident and to ensure all necessary supports are provided to other residents and their families.

Ballina
Meanwhile, a man in his 30s was arrested shortly after a fatal collision that occurred on the N26 Ballina-to-Foxford Road at Ballinahaglish at approximately 3.45pm on Sunday last, May 8.
A male motorcyclist in his 40s died after his motorbike collided with a van. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was taken to Mayo University Hospital, where a post-mortem took place.
The name of the deceased has not been officially released, but he has been named locally as Morch Wynne, a native of Ballina living in Gortskeddia Village, Crossmolina. A private cremation is due to take place later today.
The arrested man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and questioned in Ballina Garda Station. He was detained overnight before being released without charge on Monday afternoon, and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. It is understood that the Garda Air Support Unit was involved in the follow up to this incident.
Supt Joe Doherty of Ballina Garda Station is appealing to anyone who may have been travelling along the Ballina to Foxford road at the time and who might have information on the incident to contact Ballina Garda Station on 096 20560.