Justice For Terence Wheelock Protest at Store Street Garda Station

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | feature

Sunday June 04, 2006 19:42

by NMI

Large crowds protest in support of a public inquiry into the death in Garda custody of Terence Wheelock.

Do We Live in a Police State?

One year on from the unexplained death of Terence Wheelock after his detention in Store Street Garda Station, his family, his community and the wider Irish public demand some meaningful answers. In that time, the gardaí have paid their respects by physically attacking the Wheelock family and continuing their harassement of youths from Dublin's east inner city.

Lists of garda violence and other Human Rights abuses have been documented on indymedia.ie, but as yet, even those caught red-handed have been exhonerated by the Irish Justice System. However, the deaths of Brian Rossiter, John 'Johnner' Moloney, and Terence Wheelock, and the lack of accountability regarding numerous garda usage of lethal force, point to something very sinister among the ranks of the Guardians of the Peace, and a willingness to cover up, if not sanction it, within the Department of Justice.

Around 350 people marched yesterday from Seán MacDermott St church down to Store Street Garda station, on the first anniversary of Terence Wheelock being arrested and subsequently being found unconscious in a cell. A short ceremony was held inside the church before the march, where the priest expressed his hopes that the family would find truth, justice, freedom, and finally peace with their sons death. Members of the family and close friends were visibly upset during the 20 minute church ceremony, where music was played and a candle was lit in remembrance of Terence.

The march made its way down Gardiner Street and around by the LUAS tracks in front of Store Street Garda station. Laurence Wheelock again made the call for an independent inquiry into his brother's death. Floral tributes were left on the fence of the station. There was no visible Garda presence whatsoever around the station during the protest outside. The crowd was also addressed by Joe Costello of Labour and Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Fein, who urged the family to continue their campaign, and who both commended the family on the dignified nature of their protests in the face of continuing Garda intimidation.
Complementary photo essay of the demonstration Bright sunshine greeted a large community protest against the State's continuing refusal to arrange a proper, independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Terence Wheelock. Terence was arrested in early June last year and brought to Store Street Garda Station, from where, a number of hours later he was taken to the Mater Hospital. He died from his injuries in September.

While the Gardaí maintain that he attempted to commit suicide while in custody, his family, members of his local community, elected representatives and many others have demanded a Independent Public Inquiry to find out the truth.

After a brief service at Seán McDermott Street Church, the large crowd walked to Store Street Garda Station.

There they were addressed by Larry Wheelock, Terence's brother, who thanked people for coming and reminded them of the details of the case, and that the Wheelock family were asking for nothing more than justice for Terence.

Then Joe Costello, Labour Party spokesman on Defence, spoke of the issues of the case. He explained that answers were needed for several questions that have arisen; Why was the cell where Terence was held renovated by the Gardaí before his legal team had access to it? Why will the Garda not give his solicitor access to his clothes?Why did Terence have a cut and bruising on his body?
Why will the Garda not give his solicitor access to the internal Garda report?

Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald then addressed the assembled people. She first thanked the Wheelock family for arranging such a dignified, peaceful protest. She said she was very proud to be there with the family, and wanted to remind them that they are not alone. She recognised that are many families across the state in similiar positions and that they are not alone either. She welcomed members of the family of Johnner Maloney, who also died in similiarly suspicious circumstance after a spell in Garda custody.

Today's protest was for a proper system of oversight of the Gardaí, and the government had a duty to put in place a proper ombudsman.

This system should be properly resourced and funded, and, above all, independent. The people deserve nothing less. The Gardaí are servants of the state whose job is to uphold the law, but they are not above the law.

The Wheelock family, the Maloney family, and all families in the country deserve a proper, and properly accountable police service.

Mary Lou McDonald ended by saying that Sinn Féin backed the Justice For Terence Wheelock Campaign one hundred per cent, and would give any help and assistance possible to the family.

Larry Wheelock then thanked the crowd again for attending the protest and also thanked Mary Lou McDonald, Joe Costello, and all the other elected representatives and political parties who had given help to the campaign.

The campaign is completely independent, and seeks only answers to the many questions that have arisen since Terence was arrested this time last year.