| The man found dead at Cloverhill Courthouse this afternoon was confirmed as Inniskeen man Shane Rodgers who was charged with the murder of James Hughes in Dundalk.
He was also accused of shooting a taxi driver and Mr Hughes' female companion Patricia Byrne.
Mr Rogers was found unconscious in a holding cell at Cloverhill courthouse this afternoon.
Shane Rodgers had been on suicide watch during his detention at Cloverhill and foul play is not suspected.
Gardaí and the Prison Service have begun separate investigations. The cell under the courthouse has been sealed off for a forensic examination.
He was due to be escorted back under the tunnel to the adjoining Cloverhill Prison, but at around 1pm he was found unconscious in the cell and later pronounced dead.
A garda sergeant told the hearing last week that Mr Rogers was extremely remorseful after the killing and that he apologised to the Hughes family and friends and to Ms Byrne.
The sergeant also said that Mr Rogers could not live with himself because of what had happened.
He agreed with defence counsel that Mr Rogers was a suicide risk and Judge Flan Brennan directed that he receive medical and psychiatric attention.
Mr Rogers had been on suicide watch for the past seven days, which means he was checked every 15 minutes.
The focus of the two investigations will be how this tragedy could have happened.
 The man found dead at Cloverhill Courthouse this afternoon was confirmed as Inniskeen man Shane Rodgers who was charged with the murder of James Hughes in Dundalk.
He was also accused of shooting a taxi driver and Mr Hughes' female companion Patricia Byrne.
Mr Rogers was found unconscious in a holding cell at Cloverhill courthouse this afternoon.
Shane Rodgers had been on suicide watch during his detention at Cloverhill and foul play is not suspected.
Gardaí and the Prison Service have begun separate investigations. The cell under the courthouse has been sealed off for a forensic examination.
He was due to be escorted back under the tunnel to the adjoining Cloverhill Prison, but at around 1pm he was found unconscious in the cell and later pronounced dead.
A garda sergeant told the hearing last week that Mr Rogers was extremely remorseful after the killing and that he apologised to the Hughes family and friends and to Ms Byrne.
The sergeant also said that Mr Rogers could not live with himself because of what had happened.
He agreed with defence counsel that Mr Rogers was a suicide risk and Judge Flan Brennan directed that he receive medical and psychiatric attention.
Mr Rogers had been on suicide watch for the past seven days, which means he was checked every 15 minutes.
The focus of the two investigations will be how this tragedy could have happened.
In a statement that was issued through the family solicitor Martin Crilly Shanes parents Sean and Mary said they were absolutely devastated by their son's death. "We have only learned of Shane's death this afternoon and we are totally devastated and in total shock over his tragic death," they said.
"We would like to make it known that Shane had been broken-hearted over the death of Mr Hughes and the injuries to Ms Patricia Byrne and Mr Anthony Callan. Shane was totally remorseful over what happened in the tragic events that Sunday morning."
Mr and Mrs Rogers added that they were also broken-hearted over the death of Mr Hughes.
The Rogers family was due to travel to Dublin for a post-mortem examination at Tallaght Hospital. One of his brothers, Kevin, and sister Bernie are travelling home from Australia for a funeral expected later this week.
|
Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:31