Justice For Terrance

Ógra Shinn Féin call for an independent inquiry into the death of Terence Wheelock on September 16th 2005.

Spokesperson Oisín Ó Dubhláin said this,

"Due to many irregularities in the investigation and evidence put forward in support of the claim that Terrence died attempting suicide, we are shocked and disappointed by the findings of the inquest and support the Wheelock family in their call for an independent inquiry and their search for justice. Police brutality is unacceptable in every case and must be stamped out. Terrence's family and his community must not be made wait any longer for the truth."

"Terence Wheelock was arrested and taken into custody on the 2nd of June 2005 in connection with a stolen car. There is no indication that he had anything to do with the theft. He was held in Store St. Garda Station and expected to be released quickly. Sadly however, Terence left the Garda station in a coma. He did not recover from the serious injuries that he received there and he died in the Mater Hospital on 16th September 2005. There has never been an adequate explanation of what happened to him on that day in Store Street Station. The Gardaí have claimed that Terence's injuries were sustained while attempting suicide. No one who knew him can believe he was suicidal, and the pattern of his injuries indicates that he was beaten while in custody."

"The cell where Terence died was completely refurbished before anyone could examine it. The Gardaí took ten minutes from the time they say they discovered him to call an ambulance. His clothing had bloodstains on it. Photographs taken as he was admitted to hospital show bruises and bloodstains, and his clothes had vomit on them, but the Gardaí made no mention of these facts in their statements, and initially refused to hand over his clothes for forensic examination."