Dead teen's family call for inquiry after assault allegations
There were cheers from the family of John Maloney (18) of Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin, after the jury at Tallaght Coroner's Court returned its verdict.
John Maloney's father, John senior, said he believed his son had been assaulted in Rathfarnham garda station and added: "I don't think cocaine was a factor. I'll be looking for a public inquiry into this".
John Maloney was found by the roadside minutes from Rathfarnham garda station where he and a friend had been brought into custody for a routine drug search last May.
State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said Maloney's death was caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain due to complications of cocaine use. She said that there was no evidence of head trauma that would contribute to his death.
A cardiac arrest or seizure would be most likely to cause a lack of oxygen to the brain but both would be uncommon to a young man, she told the inquiry.
Gardai arrested Maloney and his friend, Alan Kennedy, at 8.20am on May 4 last.
John Maloney was released at 9.05am but at 10.10am he collapsed. He suffered a cardiac arrest on the way to hospital and was later pronounced dead.
A garda investigation into his death was later established.
Witness Kevin O'Connell testified that he saw him fall to the ground a number of times just before 9am.
Maloney was suffering spasms and his whole body, including his neck and arms, were shaking.
Ambulance worker James Daly tended Maloney but saw no indication of assault. Alan Kennedy said John Maloney had neither smoked a joint or taken cocaine that night, though they had been drinking.
He told the coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty that a guard had his two knees on Maloney's chest while he was on the bed.
Gardai said both men left within minutes of each other. There was a smell of alcohol off John Maloney, but he was coherent and walking normally.
- Mark Hilliard
