Garda watchdog received 21 death referrals last year, report reveals

Ellen O'Donoghue

A total of 21 cases of death were referred to the Garda watchdog last year.

Fiosrú's latest report, the organisation which replaced GSOC, has shown that road traffic incidents and people vulnerable or at risk were prominent in referrals.

37 incidents were referred to the Office of the Police Ombudsman in 2024, involving 42 people - 21 of whom died, with 21 seriously harmed.

18 cases involved people with known mental health difficulties, while alcohol was a factor in 19 referrals and 13 involved drug use.

A total of 29 incidents involved at least one of the three factors, accounting for 78 per cent of all referrals.

People who were homeless or had a history of homelessness were involved in four of the cases.

Road traffic incidents accounted for 13 referrals, resulting in three deaths and 15 injuries, while there were 8 incidents in or following Garda custody, involving five deaths and three serious injuries.

Of the people involved, 37 were male, and six people were under the age of 25.