The brother of a Castlemaine man, who died after spending a period in garda custody almost 21 years ago, says he's still awaiting a review that the Department of Justice promised to the family.
In 2001, forty-year-old John O’Shea had been out drinking when he was arrested and detained at Tralee Garda Station for questioning on a road traffic accident.
Mr O’Shea was released from the Garda Station and he returned home to Castlemaine in a taxi.
His parents found him slumped on the ground outside of his house and he was pronounced dead a short time later.
An inquest into John O’Shea’s death returned a verdict of hypothermia however State Pathologist Professor John Harbison revealed his verdict was reliant on garda information given to him before the inquest.
On the second day of the inquest, he changed his verdict; he said Mr O’Shea’s cause of death was possible cardio myopathy coupled with alcoholic intoxication.
There were unexplained marks on John O’Shea’s body; the late Professor Harbison couldn't explain how he sustained the injuries, and ruled out the possibility of a fall.
The family sought an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr O'Shea's death.
Mr O'Shea's brother Michael O’Shea said eight years ago the then Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald told him her department would carry out a review into the case.
However, Michael O'Shea says nothing has happened since.
Michael O’Shea says there’s many unanswered questions about his brother’s death:
Frances Fitzgerald, who is now an MEP, told Radio Kerry a direct enquiry should be submitted to the Department of Justice to check if there is an update on the case.
In a statement to Radio Kerry News, the Department of Justice said it does not comment on individual cases.
Michael O’Shea is appealing to anyone with information on his brother's death to come forward:
