Westport pensioner dies in garda custody

THE death of an elderly man while he was in garda custody in the Westport area is being investigated by the Garda Ombudsman Commission.

It is understood the deceased, a pensioner in his early seventies, was being conveyed in a patrol car to Westport garda station when he became ill.

He collapsed in the foyer of the garda station around 11 a.m. and died despite intensive efforts to resuscitate him.

By the time paramedics arrived at the scene, the man had been pronounced dead by a local doctor.

Gardaí weren’t commenting this evening (Monday) on the reasons for the man’s arrest.

Local sources suggest the deceased had an underlying serious medical condition.

Bollards were erected at the entrance to the garda station and there was intense garda activity around the base all day in the wake of the emergency.

Up to five o’clock last evening the body hadn’t been removed from the station by a firm of undertakers.

It is expected that a post mortem examination on the remains won’t take place until tomorrow (Tuesday).