NEW safety procedures for prisoners in custody in Garda holding cells were tot the Department of Justice as night following the death of a 23 year old Dublin man.
A jury recorded a death of misadventure on Kenneth Moore, Plunkett Avenue, Finglas, following a three day inquest into the circumstances of his death at Beaumont hospital following his, detention in the Bridewell Garda Station holding section.
But the jury recommended to" the Dublin County Coroner, Dr, Brian Farrell, that the relevant authority be asked that in all cases where a prisoner has been involved in an accident this fact should be recorded on the Garda station custody report sheet.
This report sheet should be transferred with the prisoner when moved and the number of the cell in which a prisoner was lodged should be recorded on it. The jury also recommended consideration be given to providing a means of communication between prisoners in holding cells and the officer in charge.
Yesterday's inquest in the Dublin Coroner's Court was told by Prof John Harbison, State Pathologist, that Mr Moore, who was arrested in a crashed stolen car, may have died as a result of head injuries sustained by colliding with the head of a passenger during the accident.
Mr Moore's relatives had contended during the three day hearing if he had been given proper medical attention after his crash and arrest he would not have been found unconscious in the Bridewell station and subsequently have died.
The deceased was arrested at North Road, Finglas, on suspicion of car theft on March 22nd 1994 at 3.30 a.m., but was found unconscious about seven hours later in the Garda station holding cell. He died in Beaumont three days later.
Evidence was given the deceased had been escorted from Finglas Garda Station to the Bridewell at 5 a.m. But when the two arresting officers went to his cell at 10.45 a.m. to collect him for his scheduled appearance in Dublin District Court, he was unconscious on the floor. He was taken to Beaumont pita where he died on March 25th.