Wheelock family receives apology after legal blunder delays park renaming
The proposal to honour Terence Wheelock was deferred due to a legal "systemic failure," a delay that councillors claimed was “overshadowed” by the Herzog Park debate.
Dublin City councillors were set to vote on a proposed name change of Diamond Park in the North Inner City to The Terence Wheelock Memorial Diamond at Monday’s monthly council meeting . However, this was ultimately removed from the agenda as the Lord Mayor revealed the proposal was “not legally sound.”
Lord Mayor Councillor Ray McAdam recognised the deep hurt that this caused the Wheelock family and stated he wished to issue a sincere apology. “The legal advice given to me means we are not in position to lawfully decide on the proposal. This is a failure on our part as a city council,” he said.
"I am genuinely sorry and I want to reassure you that this decision is not a reflection on your family or the merits of your campaign,” he added.
The reasoning for the removal of the renaming was what council CEO Richard Shakespeare described as a "systemic failure” as the proper legislation for placename changes was not currently in place. Mr Shakespeare accepted full responsibility for the error and described the situation as “appalling.”
With Herzog Park being named after the Belfast born President of Israel from 1983 to 1993 Chaim Herzog, much of the council meeting was spent discussing the divisive Rathgar Park name. Several councillors highlighted the way this issue had superseded the legacy of Terrence Wheelock and that the family was owed an apology.
Wheelock was a 20-year-old Irish man from Summerhill in Dublin's north inner city, who died on 16 September 2005. Having fallen into a coma at Store Street Garda Station on 2 June 2005, the circumstances surrounding his detainment and death led to an inquest that ultimately concluded by 4:3 that his death resulted from suicide from a coroner’s jury.
The circumstances leading to the young man's death raised questions around the treatment of detainees in Ireland and the protocols followed by gardai. With the Wheelock family campaigning for years for his legacy to be honoured, the renaming of Diamond Park was set to come 20 years after his death.
Terence’s brother Sammy spoke about being “extremely disappointed” in the proposal to delay the renaming of the park. “My family and I are extremely disappointed with what has happened here! Extremely disappointed... but we will continue to push for the change in the legislation to make sure that this renaming of the park from The Diamond Park to The Terence Wheelock Memorial Diamond Park is put into action,” he said.
The renaming of both Herzog Park and Diamond Park are set to be referred to the next meeting of the Commemorating and Naming Committee. This will take place on December 15.
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