A 30 YEAR OLD prisoner in Mountjoy died early yesterday morning. David Heeney, serving a three year sentence for sexual assault, had a heart condition and experienced breathing difficulties shortly before he died.
At 2.30 a.m. yesterday Heeney's cellmate noticed his breathing had become laboured. Prison officers then transferred Heeney to the Mater Hospital at 2.40 a.m. and he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards, the Department of Justice said. It added that Heeney had already been receiving treatment for a heart condition.
Heeney, who was a HIV positive drug addict, was sentenced last May when he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman with whom he had taken drugs in a Ballymun flat. The sentence was back dated to reflect time already spent in custody and Heeney was due for release in October.
Heeney's shared cell was in the houses HIV positive and "difficult" prisoners.
Labour TD Mr Joe Costello called for an inquiry into Heeney's death, the fourth in Mountjoy this year. Two of three earlier deaths were suicide, the third a possible suicide.