Campaign of intimidation against family of Terence Wheelock continues

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Friday June 09, 2006 12:38

by Tadhg

Terence's brother arrested and jailed because of unpaid fine from 1988.

Terence Wheelock died in suspicious circumstances after being arrested and held in Store Street Garda Station in Dublin last June. The Gardaí maintain that he attempted to take his own life by hanging himself from a light fitting in the cell. Before any proper investigation could be carried out, the cell was completely re-furbished. This included the removal of the light fixture.

The family of Terence Wheelock are campaigning for a proper public inquiry into the events surrounding his death. So far, the Department of Justice have agreed to carry out a limited, internal investigation by a senior Garda who spent many years working in Store Street.

The family have, however, been subjected to a sustained campaign of intimidation from the Gardaí, including assaults and arrests. Earlier this week, Terence's brother was arrested and taken to Clover Hill high-security prison because of a fine he had not paid in 1988.

That's an eighteen-year-old warrant. Throughout those eighteen years, the Gardaí could have got in contact at any time.

The article below is from Daily Ireland.

Demostration on the first anniversary of the death of Terence Wheelock, Dublin Sat 3/6/06

‘Campaign will continue’

DAILY IRELAND Thursaday June 8th 2006

http://tinyurl.com/pb8b7

Brother of man found dead in cell vows to fight for justice despite arrest on old warrant

By Connla Young

The brother of a man who died in suspicious circumstances almost year ago while in Garda custody says his own detention at a Dublin court yesterday is connected to his family’s campaign for justice.

Larry Wheelock spent most of yesterday in Dublin’s Cloverhill prison after a judge ordered his arrest on an 18-year-old bench warrant for non-payment of a fine.

Mr Wheelock, who heads up the Justice for Terence Wheelock campaign, travelled to Dublin District Court after gardaí contacted his solicitor.

His brother, Terence Wheelock, died last September after spending the previous three months on a life-support machine after being found unconscious in a cell at Store Street Garda station on June 2.
Since his death, the 20-year-old man’s family has campaigned for a full independent inquiry and the return of his clothes so they can be examined by an independent expert.

After arriving at court yesterday, Larry Wheelock was stunned when a judge ordered his detention. He was then taken to Cloverhill prison.

Speaking to Daily Ireland on his release last night, Mr Wheelock said he will not be deterred from campaigning.

“It’s possible they think this is a way to silence me. I am the voice of the campaign and they came after me with a 18-year-old warrant. But this is not going to deter me, they have the internet in prison and if I have to I will run the campaign from there. I have been living at the same address for years and they could have delivered this at any time.

“We repeat our call for a full independent inquiry into Terence’s death. We also call for his clothes and personal effects to be returned to the family. What possible motive can they have for continuing to keep them other than hindering this case? I have brothers, five sisters and a mother and father who will stand in my shoes if I’m not there.”

Terence Wheelock’s family have rejected claims by gardaí that he attempted to take his own life while in Store Street Garda station.