The case study is included in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) annual report for 2024, which was published today.

GSOC was succeeded by Fiosrú – Oifig an Ombudsman Póilíneachta (Office of the Police Ombudsman) in 2025.

The woman who died was being detained to ensure her attendance in Dublin Metropolitan District Court at the next sitting of that court.

The detention was necessary as the option of releasing her on bail was not available to gardaí, owing to the existence of three outstanding bench warrants.

Such warrants remove the discretion of the member in charge of the Garda station to release a person on what is commonly referred to as station bail.

A review of CCTV at the Garda station showed that the entries created in the custody record by an individual Garda as regards visits to the cell of the woman were not accurate.

The Garda member recorded entries in the custody record regarding visits to the cell of the woman which were not made.

However, the alleged neglect by the Garda member concerned did not contribute to the death of the woman.

A visit by a doctor to this woman after the Garda concerned finished duty is listed on the custody record. The doctor raised no concerns as to the condition of detention, or potential indications of a sudden death.

A disciplinary investigation report was submitted to the Garda commissioner, who imposed a disciplinary sanction on the member concerned.

The report includes 14 other case studies from the watchdog’s activities during the course of 2024, during which it received 2,226 complaints from the public and opened 37 investigations on referral by An Garda Síochána.

A total of 67 files were forwarded to the director of public prosecutions arising from GSOC investigations.

A further final report will be published in due course which will cover GSOC’s activities during the period 1 January 2025 to 1 April 2025.