Terence Wheelock’s family continues demand for justice 21 years on
This week marks 21 years since the arrest of Terence Wheelock, with his family’s long-running plea for a public enquiry still ongoing.
On June 2, 2005, Terence, a 20-year-old Irish man from Summerhill fell into a coma from injuries sustained at Store Street Garda station. He was arrested alongside three others on suspicion of car theft and after being detained was found unconscious in his cell two hours later before ultimately dying on September 15, 2005.
The inquest into Terence’s death ruled it a suicide by 4:3, although the events surrounding his arrest raised serious questions around the treatment of detainees and the protocols followed by An Garda Síochána. His family have led the Justice for Terence Wheelock campaign, which is hosting a gathering at the Garden of Remembrance this Saturday, June 6.
North Inner City Sinn Féin Councillor Janice Boylan issued a video statement on social media encouraging people to join Terence’s family, his friends and community on the day. “It has been 21 years since Terence’s life was taken away from him,” she said.
“His family has fought a battle and are continuing to fight a battle to get justice and to get answers and to get the truth in relation to that awful, awful tragedy,” she said. “I am asking people, particularly those from the North Inner City, to come along on the 6th of June at 3 o’clock at the Garden of Remembrance and stand in solidarity to demand justice for Terence Wheelock and his family.”
The campaign for Terence’s memory also included a planned commemoration with Diamond Park in the North Inner City due to be renamed The Terence Wheelock Memorial Diamond in December last year. This was supposed to commemorate 20 years since his death, but the renaming was removed from Dublin City Council’s agenda due to legal issues highlighted by the controversial renaming of Herzog Park due to take place at the same meeting.
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 described by Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare 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”.
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 the renaming of the park from The Diamond Park to The Terence Wheelock Memorial Diamond Park is put into action,” he said.
Now, six months later, the issue remains unresolved as the council’s Commemorations and Naming Committee opted last December to pause renaming plans until a “totally independent legal opinion” had been received.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme