Upcoming Events

Dublin | Crime and Justice

no events match your query!

New Events

Dublin

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link News Round-Up Thu Dec 05, 2024 01:18 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link What?s the Difference Between Scepticism and Cynicism? Wed Dec 04, 2024 19:00 | James Alexander
What's the difference between scepticism and cynicism? Cynicism is especially necessary for assessing politics, says Prof James Alexander, as it sits below scepticism, making us question the motives of those who rule us.
The post What’s the Difference Between Scepticism and Cynicism? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Manchester United Drops LGBT Rainbow Jacket After Muslim Star Player Refuses to Wear It Wed Dec 04, 2024 17:30 | Will Jones
Manchester United dropped an LGBT rainbow jacket that the team was planning to wear on Sunday after a Muslim star player refused to wear it, in the third LGBT Pride controversy to hit the Premier League this week.
The post Manchester United Drops LGBT Rainbow Jacket After Muslim Star Player Refuses to Wear It appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link More Than 50 Experts Ready to Defend Letby, Says Her Lawyer Wed Dec 04, 2024 15:14 | Will Jones
More than 50 experts stand ready to defend?Lucy Letby, her barrister has said, as the police confirm they have questioned her in prison over more deaths and collapses.
The post More Than 50 Experts Ready to Defend Letby, Says Her Lawyer appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link AI is a Misnomer Wed Dec 04, 2024 13:00 | Joanna Gray
AI is a misnomer, says Joanna Gray. It's not and will never be 'intelligent'. The fact that human 'super recognisers' are needed to spot the mistakes that AI makes at least 25% of the time should be proof enough.
The post AI is a Misnomer appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link What is changing in the Middle East , by Thierry Meyssan Tue Dec 03, 2024 07:08 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?110 Fri Nov 29, 2024 15:01 | en

offsite link Verbal ceasefire in Lebanon Fri Nov 29, 2024 14:52 | en

offsite link Russia Prepares to Respond to the Armageddon Wanted by the Biden Administration ... Tue Nov 26, 2024 06:56 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?109 Fri Nov 22, 2024 14:00 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Justice? Two years have passed and the Wheelock family still have no answers.

category dublin | crime and justice | feature author Friday June 08, 2007 13:56author by E B Report this post to the editors

An overview of Terence Wheelock case on the second anniversary of his arrest

featured image
Terence Wheelock's Father and Brothers, 2006. Photo by Michael Gallagher.

Terence Wheelock was taken into custody on the 2nd of June 2005. The twenty year old man left Store Street station in a coma never to recover from the injuries that he received there and died in September 2005. His family is still waiting for an adequate explanation for what happened on that day in Store Street. The Gardai claim that Terence’s injuries were sustained while attempting suicide but the Wheelock family have disputed this and have launched a high profile campaign for an independent inquiry into Terence Wheelock’s death.

The demand for an inquiry is both reasonable and fair in light of the information that has come into the public domain since June 2005. Many of the details of the events surrounding Terence Wheelock’s death have been well documented on Indymedia, and in The Village. More recently the case has received attention from the Sunday Tribune and a number of other mainstream media outlets. Nonetheless, it is worth reiterating some of the most striking features of the case. For instance the cell where Terence Wheelock fell into a coma was immediately renovated before it could be inspected by the family’s legal team. The clothes Terence was wearing that day, which were later found to be blood spattered, were taken away by the Gardai and left in conditions that undermined the value of the garments as forensic evidence. Custody records in the station were inexplicably amended and numerous other inconsistencies have been noted in the Garda version of events. Moreover, witnesses who were at Store Street and who later appeared at the Coroner’s Court have questioned the Gardai’s account of what took place. Even more significantly the Gardai’s assertion that Terence Wheelock had no marks or bruises on his body when he was in custody has been flatly contradicted by photographic evidence obtained by the family from the Mater hospital which clearly shows extensive bruising and lacerations all over the young man.

The Campaign for Justice for Terence Wheelock is holding a peaceful protest this Saturday the 9th of June to mark the second anniversary of Terence Wheelock’s arrest and his subsequent death and to renew their call for an independent inquiry. The protest will meet at Sean McDermott Street church at 1 pm and then move to Store Street.

Related Links: Motion for Wheelock Inquiry Passed by Dublin City Council | Community and Family March on the First Anniversary of Terence Wheelock's Death. | The Wheelock Family move out of Summerhill after continuing Garda intimidation | Campaign of intimidation against family of Terence Wheelock continues | June 2006: Justice For Terence Wheelock Protest at Store Street Garda Station | Fighting for Justice; Fighting for the truth: an interview with the Wheelocks May 2006: Wheelock Family Attacked by Gardai | Another death caused by Garda Hospitality? - The parents of John Moloney demand an independent inquiry

The demand for an independent inquiry however is not solely based on the circumstantial and forensic evidence. The behaviour of the Gardai since Terence Wheelock’s death has completely undermined any faith that the family might have had in a Garda led investigation. As reported on Indymedia previously members of the Gardai have on numerous occasions taunted and harassed the Wheelock family and subjected them to regular overt and covert surveillance over the past two years.

Unfortunately, there has been somewhat less zeal shown by those within the criminal justice system supposedly responsible for establishing the facts of the case. Firstly, the Department of Justice refused to make resources available to the Wheelocks so the evidence could be examined by independent forensic experts and true to form Minister McDowell did little more than utter meaningless blandishments and clichés. Secondly, extraordinary as it may seem, the internal Garda investigation into the death was, until recently, led by Oliver Hanley a Garda who served in Store Street for over fifteen years before being stationed elsewhere. Thirdly, although, the Coroner’s Court has had been convened sixteen times to look at the case this process has yielded far more heat than light and quite incredibly the Court had to be adjourned before Christmas when it became apparent that State Pathologist, Marie Cassidy, had completely overlooked the photographic evidence of injuries to Terence Wheelock. And at the most recent sitting last week the Wheelocks were informed that the evidence gathered by independent experts engaged by Yvonne Bamberry, the family’s lawyer, on the case would not be directly admissible to the Court. At each turn it seems that the Wheelocks' attempt to get justice is being frustrated and impeded.

Following Terence Wheelock’s death the state asked the family to trust in due process. However, two years later the family are still waiting for a substantive, thorough and independent investigation let alone an indication that this case is been given the care and attention it deserves. The question then, on the second anniversary of the events that led to Terence Wheelock’s untimely death, is how long should the Wheelock family have to wait before they receive a credible account of what transpired in Store Street?

Whatever the answer is to this question- and the State seems to favour delay-the Wheelocks, along with their neighbours, friends and supporters remain determined to find out what happened in June 2005 however long it takes. This singular determination is one of the most significant, but least remarked upon, aspects of the Wheelock case. Many people faced with malice, disdain, harassment and disinterest would understandably choose to retire and attend privately to their grief rather than struggle on for justice. It is, given the evidence at hand, not unreasonable to suggest that a number of Gardai were hoping or even calculating that this is exactly what would happen. Instead, the Wheelocks have, despite everything, built a strongly supported local campaign that has managed to draw the attention of human rights groups including Amnesty to the case alongside a growing number of activists, journalists and politicians. Without this effort Terence Wheelock would have become the name of another person who died in Garda custody (* see note) and the disturbing questions the case raises for us all about what happens behind cell doors would, in all likelihood, never have been brought into the public arena .

George Orwell watching a needless death and the enormous loss of potential that this entailed was moved to write of witnessing “one life less, one world less”. In coping with the loss of a son and a brother, in fact of a whole world, while publicly fighting for justice the Wheelock family have displayed courage, dignity and a rare determination. The family and their campaign deserve our respect and our solidarity not just because of the injustice of this particular case but also because it allows us to begin to name and perhaps even address some of the abuses of power that people across Ireland are forced to suffer.

The Campaign for Justice for Terence Wheelock is holding a peaceful protest this Saturday the 9th of June to mark the second anniversary of Terence Wheelock’s arrest and his subsequent death and to renew their call for an independent inquiry. The protest will meet at Sean McDermott Street church at 1 pm and then move to Store Street.

* There have been at least 22 such deaths since 1997 in varying circumstances but rarely are these cases deemed worthy of sustained attention

 #   Title   Author   Date 
   great piece where is sean mac dermot street     tom paine    Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:01 
   Larry Wheelock holding a picture of his brother Terence     Photo    Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:12 
   justice     Con Carroll    Fri Jun 08, 2007 14:55 
   Why read the Trib... is there something new there?     R. Isible    Fri Jun 08, 2007 16:56 
   justice for terence     maura    Fri Jun 08, 2007 18:21 
   Some Photos From the March     Chekov    Sat Jun 09, 2007 15:02 
   several hundred people turned out 2 yrs after the death of terence     mick    Sat Jun 09, 2007 15:49 
   Waste of Time!     krusty!    Sat Jun 09, 2007 18:50 
   they should be commended on there stance     martin    Sat Jun 09, 2007 19:21 
 10   Wasted Time?????     DM    Sat Jun 09, 2007 22:01 
 11   Gardai hate the working class     Paddy Savage    Sun Jun 10, 2007 01:06 
 12   Wake Up     krusty    Sun Jun 10, 2007 16:09 
 13   Give up     Krusty the Klown    Sun Jun 10, 2007 18:00 
 14   i agree give it up krusty or al....whatever     maura    Sun Jun 10, 2007 20:26 
 15   The death of terence has taken a lot out of his parents     niall    Sun Jun 10, 2007 20:57 
 16   Evidence     DM    Sun Jun 10, 2007 22:38 
 17   Irish Times Article     Libertarian Infusion    Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:49 
 18   why the surveilence?     john    Mon Jun 11, 2007 14:47 
 19   justice will be done     jim    Mon Jun 11, 2007 16:17 
 20   Sinn Féin support     SF    Mon Jun 11, 2007 23:33 
 21   Solidarity     JM    Tue Jun 12, 2007 03:32 
 22   Great pictures     anon    Thu Jun 14, 2007 17:45 
 23   Another death in garda custody     maura    Wed Jun 20, 2007 15:24 
 24   He was a good lad.     peader    Thu Jul 12, 2007 13:54 
 25   Interesting ...     Update    Fri Jul 13, 2007 15:54 
 26   Verdict just in     Aragon    Fri Jul 13, 2007 18:57 
 27   Well well well     Al    Fri Jul 13, 2007 20:46 
 28   We'll see     Betty    Fri Jul 13, 2007 20:59 
 29   Not True Aragon     Frank Hand    Fri Jul 13, 2007 22:33 
 30   only the start     noel    Fri Jul 13, 2007 22:46 
 31   the full truth     ermintrude    Sat Jul 14, 2007 20:51 
 32   ermintrude i would agree     tony    Sun Jul 15, 2007 13:48 
 33   why not     logical solution    Sun Jul 15, 2007 14:25 
 34   as rported there is a civil action and the ombudsman is looking at the case     tony    Sun Jul 15, 2007 14:47 
 35   Wait For It     Observer    Sun Jul 15, 2007 16:27 
 36   Why did the gardai run the Wheelock out of their home     not    Mon Jul 16, 2007 17:09 
 37   observer     jim    Mon Jul 16, 2007 19:46 
 38   Al is full of self interest in this case     lisa    Mon Jul 23, 2007 14:17 
 39   the coroner     justicia    Mon Jul 23, 2007 15:26 
 40   not all is entirely accurate what you are saying     joe    Mon Jul 23, 2007 15:58 
 41   silly silly silly     nihethea    Tue Jul 24, 2007 00:05 
 42   Blah blah blah     Al    Tue Jul 24, 2007 03:14 
 43   what planet are you from?     Donal    Tue Jul 24, 2007 17:27 
 44   AL is full of it     lisa    Tue Jul 24, 2007 17:55 
 45   "its in the public interest"     bill    Fri Jul 27, 2007 18:50 
 46   Lies, lies and Lies thy name is Donal     Al    Sat Jul 28, 2007 14:32 
 47   Al the self appionted pr man for store st.     Donal    Sat Jul 28, 2007 16:48 
 48   methinks the experts should of been allowed give evidence     observer    Sat Jul 28, 2007 19:46 
 49   everybody knows     Teresa O' D    Sun Jul 29, 2007 01:10 
 50   Theres no getting away from the truth.     Donal    Sun Jul 29, 2007 15:31 
 51   evidence     O'D    Sun Jul 29, 2007 22:07 
 52   are we distancing ourselves from your origanal posts?     Donal    Mon Jul 30, 2007 17:24 
 53   Public inquiry now!     tracey    Fri Aug 03, 2007 18:09 
 54   family exposed bruising.     irene    Sun Aug 05, 2007 20:42 
 55   New report throws new suspicion on the wheelock case     observer    Mon Aug 13, 2007 17:22 
 56   Why ask a question thats been answered?     Al    Mon Aug 13, 2007 22:25 
 57   AL a liar and a charlaton     linda    Mon Aug 13, 2007 23:10 
 58   ombudsman can they get the answers?     jill    Fri Oct 05, 2007 17:50 
 59   Previous convictions     Franko    Sat Oct 27, 2007 16:34 
 60   Relevance??     G    Sat Oct 27, 2007 20:12 
 61   as you have asked     teaman4    Sat Oct 27, 2007 22:00 
 62   Why hide the truth?     Response    Tue Oct 30, 2007 14:20 
 63   garda watch and smear tactics     paul    Mon Nov 12, 2007 14:18 
 64   Upset?     G    Mon Nov 12, 2007 20:45 
 65   Technical Clarification     Anthony    Mon Nov 12, 2007 22:30 
 66   thanks for your clarification anthony     nel    Mon Nov 19, 2007 14:21 
 67   al is a squealer     foxey    Sat Dec 29, 2007 23:35 
 68   frustration     rory    Sun Dec 30, 2007 15:51 
 69   Focus on Facts     Laurence O' Toole    Fri Jan 04, 2008 17:33 
 70   Many thanks     Al    Sat Jan 05, 2008 04:01 
 71   Timeline     Jim Davis    Sun Jan 06, 2008 19:53 
 72   gardai unaccountable and unaccepatable     geraldo    Mon Jan 07, 2008 15:40 


Number of comments per page
  
 
© 2001-2024 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy