State allows prisoner on suicide watch kill himself.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/probe-into-failure-of-suicide-watch-on-hanged-shotgun-killer-2969507.html

TWO investigations were under way last night into the death of a shotgun killer, who hanged himself soon after a court appearance.

Accused Shane Rogers had been on suicide watch after warning last week that he could not live with himself following his arrest by gardai investigating the murder of GAA club star James Hughes.

His parents said last night that he was broken-hearted and full of remorse after the shooting.

Mr Rogers (32) was found dead by prison staff in a holding cell at Cloverhill courthouse in west Dublin at lunchtime, shortly after he had been remanded in custody until next month.

He had earlier been taken from his prison cell in the adjoining Cloverhill jail and brought through a tunnel to appear in the district court on a charge of murdering Mr Hughes (35), whom he regarded as a love rival.

Mr Hughes was hit by two blasts from a double barrelled shotgun as he was dropping a female friend home after a night out.

The victim had been sitting in a taxi with his friend, Patricia Byrne (21) outside her home at the quiet Cluain Ard, Lis na Dara estate, at Carrick Road, Dundalk, shortly before 4am on Sunday week.

She sustained minor injuries along with the taxi driver, Anthony Callan, from the initial blast. All three had been sitting in the front of the vehicle.

It is believed Mr Rogers had previously been in a relationship with Ms Byrne and became jealous when he spotted her socialising with her friend earlier in the night.

After he was cautioned by gardai in Dundalk station, he said: "I apologise to him and to his family and friends and to Trish Byrne.

"I am sorry for what I did. I cannot live with myself for doing this."

Mr Rogers, of Deery Terrace, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, had been on suicide watch since he was remanded to Cloverhill prison last week when Judge Flann Brennan directed that he receive medical and psychiatric attention.

This meant that prison staff checked on him every 15 minutes while he was in his cell in the jail.

An internal investigation into his death by the Irish Prison Service will now determine whether he remained under observation yesterday while he was in the holding cell.

Mr Rogers was brought directly to the holding area after his court appearance and was found hanged from a light fitting when a prison officer checked on him at 12.50pm.

Staff immediately attempted to resuscitate him while they awaited an ambulance, which brought him to Tallaght hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly before 2pm.

Gardai investigating the murder were alerted and immediately notified the dead man's family.

Devastated

Last night his parents Sean and Mary said they were 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."

The couple said they were also broken-hearted over the death of Mr Hughes.

They made the comments in a statement issued through the family solicitor, Martin Crilly, who said he knew Mr Rogers for 15 years and described him as "the backbone of the family".

"I had the highest regard for him. He looked after the younger members of the family and he was loyal to his family," the solicitor added.

As a garda investigation into the suicide continued last night, members of the family travelled to Dublin for a post-mortem examination in Tallaght.

One of his brothers, Kevin, and a sister, Bernie, are travelling home from Australia for his funeral later in the week.

After the shooting in Dundalk, Mr Rogers had contacted gardai in Carrickmacross and presented himself there.

- Tom Brady Security Editor



Fairly tragic story all round.

He admitted to murdering someone, and nearly murdering another two.

Forgive me if I don't lose any sleep over this 'person'.

I don't think 'allowed' is the right word, either. They hardly said "Here, have some rope, a knife[, etc]" or watched him as he killed himself.

Its yer man who killed the GAA player in the Taxi.

I did hear on the radio last week before the murderer killed himself that he was on suicide watch. So the state did mess up in that case. I suppose if somebody is determined enough then they will do it. Sad case all round for the family's involved of the victim and the murderer.

Hanged from a light fitting, meaning he could well have pull electrical wiring from the ceiling...

and holding cells are not specifically designed for being suicide-proof. Sounds to me like he would have done it sooner or later. Just a matter of when the opportunity arose. I don't see any disgraceful negligence tbh.

Misticles wrote: »

His family are innocent victims here so they should be compensated for his death.

..and they can hand it directly over to the real victims.

Misticles wrote: »

giles lynchwood wrote: »

And the we the public will foot the bill for the enquiry that will follow,plus any compensation awarded to his family.

:rolleyes:

and rightly so! The prison fooked up and that guy would be alive had they done their job properly. Its not a case of an eye for an eye here.


His family are innocent victims here so they should be compensated for his death.

The innocent victim here is the person he killed.

TishyO wrote: »

The innocent victims here are the two people he killed.

You clearly didn't read the story.

It's a sorry excuse to have a pop at the gardaí and/or Prison Service.

prinz wrote: »

On what basis was he not 'all there'?

By definition, his actions previous to arrest were not those of a sane/right thinking individual and he had stated his intent to commit suicide.

Are we getting to the stage now where no one actually murders anyone anymore? Obviously he wasn't sane. Obviously the gangland killers aren't sane. Obviously the killers of gerry mccabe weren't sane.... Jesus wept. Is creating a billion dollar pyramid scheme the actions of a sane person? Is robbing a bank? Is raping someone?

I do not think 'allowed' is the right word but it sounds like someone messed up...
He should have spent his life in prison paying a price but instead took the handy way out, pity he did not show his victim the same mercy he showed himself. Thoughts with both families involved, sad sad situation