Inquest Delayed: Prisoner Death File Mislaid, Court Reveals

URGENT UPDATE: An inquest into the death of prisoner Michael Devlin has been postponed for an additional three months after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) “mislaid” crucial files, a coroner’s court confirmed today. This latest development raises significant concerns about the handling of investigations into deaths in custody.

Devlin, who absconded from Shelton Abbey open prison in Co Wicklow in 2020, was re-arrested in January 2024 but tragically passed away in Cloverhill Prison a month later due to complications from supraglottitis, a severe bacterial infection. The preliminary hearing at Dublin District Coroner’s Court revealed that a file detailing the circumstances surrounding his death had been “mislaid” after being submitted in May, prompting Detective Inspector Brian Hanley to request a further adjournment.

During the hearing, Det Insp Hanley stated that after inquiries, it was discovered that the file had been resubmitted only two weeks ago. “I am mystified as to why a file would be submitted to the DPP in relation to a death in custody without the postmortem report,” remarked family representative Michael Finucane, highlighting the troubling delays in the investigation process.

Coroner Dr. Clare Keane acknowledged the family’s concerns but indicated that such questions could not be addressed during this preliminary session, leading to an adjournment until November 2024.

In a related case, the family of Karl McKeon, a 38-year-old man who died in a workplace incident in December 2019, expressed their frustration as another adjournment was sought. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) requested a six-month delay, indicating that the investigation file remains with the DPP. McKeon’s mother, Mary, conveyed her heartbreak, stating,

“Karl’s five and a half years dead, and it’s destroying our family. We don’t know why he died or how he died.”

The emotional toll on families is palpable, with Mary expressing despair over the lack of answers, saying,

“I don’t know if I’m going to live to find out what happened to my son.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Keane has urged the HSA to keep her office updated as the case is adjourned for another three months.

In a further case, the inquest for John Murphy, a 41-year-old who suffered fatal injuries in an industrial accident at the Stryker plant in Carrigtwohill in June 2023, has also been postponed for six months due to ongoing investigations by the HSA. Murphy succumbed to his injuries at St James’s Hospital in Dublin nearly two months after the incident.

This series of adjournments raises critical questions about accountability and the pace of investigations into deaths under state care. As families await answers, the urgency for transparency in these cases has never been more pressing. What happens next in these inquiries could have profound implications for the handling of custodial deaths in Ireland.

As developments unfold, the public and concerned families will be watching closely to ensure that justice is served and that the voices of the deceased are heard.