Probe into teenager's death in Garda custody
An inquiry is to be held into the death of a 14-year-old boy who fell into a coma while in Garda custody, it emerged tonight.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell has appointed Hugh Hartnett, an experienced barrister, to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the arrest, treatment and detention of Brian Rossiter in Clonmel Garda Station in September 2002.
He made his decision after reviewing the investigation file on the case he received from the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy 10 days ago.
A spokesman for Mr McDowell confirmed that he had written yesterday to the solicitors hired by the teenager’s family to apologise for his Department’s inadequate response to correspondence they had sent last year.
Brian Rossiter was taken into custody in Clonmel Garda Station on September 10, 2002 on suspicion of public order offences. He had been involved in a row two days previously which had left him with two black eyes and a headache.
But he was found comatose in his cell the following morning and died two days later in hospital.
His parents claim he died following an assault while in custody in Clonmel Garda Station and havebegun legal proceedings alleging wrongful death.
