asked the Minister for Justice if he will investigate the cause of death of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 following a Garda raid on his home; the reason for the Garda raid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Investigation of Death.
106.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the position in relation to this matter is as follows.
On 1 October 1988 the house in question was searched under authority of a warrant issued in accordance with section 29 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. There was no violence and nothing untoward occurred in the house during the search. Contrary to a recent newspaper report that he was ordered out of bed by the gardaí, the deceased was in the hallway of the house when the gardaí were admitted. He was shown the search warrant and the search was conducted in his presence. While the search was in progress he informed one of the gardaí present that he suffered from angina and that he had just spent a bad night with chest pains. The gardaí were in the house for about 15 minutes.
Later that day the gardaí were informed of the sudden death of the person concerned on admission to hospital. The death was reported to the county coroner and a death certificate has been issued by the deceased's medical practitioner. The coroner has accepted the cause of death as being that specified in the certificate.