A post-mortem examination is to be carried out today on the body of a 26-year-old man who was found hanged in a police cell in Co Waterford, Irish police said today.
Pat Hayes was arrested yesterday afternoon in connection with an alleged domestic order offence but, when officers at Dungarvan garda station checked on him at around 3.30pm, he was found hanged in his cell.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to resuscitate him and his body was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital.
Mr Hayes, of St Bridget’s Terrace, Dungarvan, is understood to have been single and a father of two.
He was due to appear before a sitting of Dungarvan Circuit Court yesterday afternoon in connection with an alleged breach of an undertaking he had given in court 48 hours earlier not to assault, intimidate, or threaten his former partner.
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding his death, a police spokesman said. A police technical team is examining the cell where he was held.
The state pathologist, Dr John Harbison, is to carry out a post-mortem examination on the body later today at Waterford Regional Hospital.