THERE ARE GROWING calls for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane Rogers at Cloverhill courthouse on Tuesday.
Rogers, 32, was found dead in his holding cell at the courthouse in west Dublin on Tuesday afternoon. He had been charged with the murder of GAA player James Hughes in Dundalk, Co Louth over a week ago.
Rogers had been on suicide watch during his detention but was later found unconscious in his holding cell at the courthouse and was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later. Gardaí do not suspect foul play in the death.
His parents have led calls for an independent inquiry into his death.
According to a statement released to Press Association yesterday, Sean and Margaret Rogers do not want to deflect from the pain and suffering endured by the Hughes family but they feel such an inquiry is necessary and in the interests of vulnerable prisoners.
Gardaí and the Irish Prison Service are currently investigating the incident but the family believe that the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter should go further.
“We consider that a fully independent inquiry should be established by the minister similar to those carried out by the Garda Ombudsman’s office,” a statement issued through the family’s solicitor said.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust backed this call and said that there should be an independent system for investigating deaths in Irish prisons, claiming the lack of such a system is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
A statement said: “Where a death occurs in a Garda station, the case is immediately sent to the Garda Ombudsman for an independent investigation.
“However, in Ireland there is no Prisoner Ombudsman – as exists in other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland and England and Wales – or equivalent independent complaints and investigations mechanism.”
The Department of Justice said in a statement: “The Minister for Justice has asked the Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly to carry out a full investigation under section 31 of the Prisons Act 2007 into the circumstances of Mr Rogers’ death.”
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