Case No. 2795Suicide · Co. Dublin · 10 Feb 2018
Family of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox says Regency murder probe was 'straw that broke the camel's back'
The family of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, who shot himself in the head at Ballymun Garda Station in Dublin on 10 February 2018, said the stress of the David Byrne Regency Hotel murder investigation was the 'straw that broke the camel's back'. His inquest, which returned a verdict of suicide last month, heard he was under immense pressure over the high-profile probe.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court18 Nov
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports66 statements extracted from the articles
- whatColm Fox was found dead in his office at Ballymun Garda Station on the evening of February 10, 2018 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was found with notes left for family members and his official firearm (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was 56 years old, a married father of three from Seabury Glen, Malahide, Co Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was the lead investigator into the Regency Hotel murder (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPatrick Hutch was charged with the murder of David Byrne, a senior member of the Kinahan crime cartel (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe murder occurred during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel by members of the rival Hutch gang (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn the weekend before his death, Colm Fox was neither eating nor sleeping (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn the morning of his death, Colm Fox went into his office early to study for a thesis (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEdel Fox arranged to go see a movie that evening to take his mind off the Regency case (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEdel Fox rang Ballymun Garda Station at 8.30pm and was told there was a light on in his office (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMegan Fox moved to New York in December 2017 for work (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSgt Michael Ryan was called into Colm Fox's office on the morning of his death for a general conversation (irishmirror.ie)
- whatColm Fox told Sgt Ryan that if he had to do it all again there would be some things he would do differently (irishmirror.ie)
- whatInsp John Collins signed Colm Fox out for a firearm that morning as he wanted to go to the Garda shooting range in Tallaght (irishmirror.ie)
- whatColm Fox returned after ten minutes as he had taken the wrong ammunition from the armoury (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDet Supt Colm Fox was found dead in his office at Ballymun Garda Station on the evening of 10 February 2018 with notes left for family members and his official firearm. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHe was a 56-year-old married father of three from Seabury Glen, Malahide, Co Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHis death occurred during a murder trial at the Special Criminal Court relating to the Regency Hotel murder in Whitehall, Dublin on 5 February 2016. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatPatrick Hutch was charged with the murder of David Byrne, a senior member of the Kinahan crime cartel, during an attack on a boxing weigh-in at the hotel. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatDet Supt Fox had come under pressure from commissioners to progress the Regency case quicker. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatOn 3 February 2018, Det Supt Fox remarked he may have made a mistake in relation to the Regency investigation. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatEdel Fox and Colm Fox first met in 1979 and were married for 28 years. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHe was previously based in Blanchardstown as an inspector overseeing murder investigations, then promoted and transferred to Swinford, Co Mayo, before a 15-month fraud role in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatDuring a short break in Kilkenny, his phone never stopped ringing. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatOn the morning of his death he went into his Ballymun office early to study for a thesis. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatEdel Fox rang Ballymun Garda Station at 8.30pm and was told there was a light on in his office, but had not heard from him by 10pm. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatDet Supt Fox's late father Dessie Fox asked an assistant Garda commissioner: 'Why didn't you mind my son?' (dublinlive.ie)
- whatSgt Michael Ryan was called into Det Supt Fox's office on the morning of his death, where Fox remarked that if he had to do it all again there would be some things he would do differently. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatSgt Ryan found the door to Det Supt Fox's office open at 5.45pm that evening. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatInsp John Collins signed Det Supt Fox out for a firearm so he could go to the Garda shooting range in Tallaght, but Fox returned after ten minutes having taken the wrong ammunition. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatDet Supt Colm Fox died by suicide at Ballymun Garda station on 10 February 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- whatFox wrote that he did not follow up and issue necessary tasks around the recognition of suspect Patrick Hutch (irishtimes.com)
- whatPatrick Hutch was on trial at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Kinahan associate David Byrne on 5 February 2016 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Regency Hotel murder trial subsequently collapsed (irishtimes.com)
- whatFox wrote that his mistake may not be seen by some as a mistake and he could not live with that (irishtimes.com)
- whatFox stated he took full responsibility as the SIO (irishtimes.com)
- whatFox apologised to the Byrne family in the letter (irishtimes.com)
- whatFox was the senior investigating officer in 18 serious crime cases at the time of his death (irishtimes.com)
- whatFox had been assigned to lead investigations into a double murder in Finglas in August 2017 and a shooting involving garda members in Ballymun in December 2017 (irishtimes.com)
- whatFox was discovered deceased in the en suite bathroom in his office with a Smith and Wesson revolver (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Supt Colm Fox (56) was found dead in his office at Ballymun Garda station on 10 February 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn a letter written shortly before his death, Det Supt Fox referred to a perceived mistake he had made in relation to his investigation of the Regency Hotel shooting. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Supt Fox said the more he did for the defence, the more requests they were sending. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child of a garda witness giving evidence at the trial was subject to a comment at school accusing their father of being a liar. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWhen the court ruled identification evidence admissible on 2 February, Det Supt Fox replied to Det Insp Gallagher's congratulatory text: 'It was important that the lads were found to be truthful. However, it is only half time.' (irishtimes.com)
- whatDet Insp Gallagher believed the stress and pressure combined with Fox's compassion led to him overthinking and arriving at irrational conclusions. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRetired Chief Supt Mark Curran said Fox had concerns in January 2018 about the procedures around the pronouncement of death of David Byrne, which he later said had been resolved. (irishtimes.com)
- whatColm Fox shot himself in the head in Ballymun Garda Station in Dublin on 10 February 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was under immense pressure over the Regency Hotel murder investigation and the trial. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was the Senior Investigating Officer on the David Byrne murder investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDavid Byrne was a Kinahan cartel gangster assassinated in the lobby of the Regency Hotel in February 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo months after the murder, Edel brought Colm to Kilkenny for a trip but he spent most of his time dealing with work calls. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDaughter Megan said no one really knew how bad things were for him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe Regency Hotel murder occurred on February 5, 2016 (irishmirror.ie)
- causeA Health and Safety Authority official said evidence suggested workplace stress was a factor in Fox's death. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInquiries by the Gardaí, GSOC, the HSA and the Dublin Coroner could not find any omission. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial at the Special Criminal Court collapsed due to the death of Det Supt Fox (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe inquest is expected to last four days and will resume on Tuesday morning (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe inquest was held at Dublin District Coroner's Court before coroner Myra Cullinane. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe inquest was expected to last four days and was to resume on Tuesday morning. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe inquest is sitting before coroner Dr Myra Cullinane at Dublin District Coroner's Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCoroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a verdict of death by suicide. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe coroner recommended and endorsed a new Garda directive on the issuing and use of firearms. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHis inquest returned a verdict of suicide. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNobody has been convicted of the murder of David Byrne. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Fox family hopes to raise awareness to help others who are struggling and encourage them to seek support. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Dec2024Family of Colm Fox says Regency murder probe was 'straw that broke camel’s back'
Family breaks silence following inquest verdict of suicide; details the pressure of the Regency murder probe, Colm Fox's letters referencing an unexplained 'omission', and the collapse of the Patrick Hutch trial after his death.
victim, Colm Fox, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Fox - 21 Nov2024‘We know it was all too much for him’: Inquest into death of Det Supt Colm Fox returns verdict of suicide
The inquest returned a verdict of death by suicide. A Health and Safety Authority official said workplace stress was a factor. The coroner recommended digitisation of the Garda's firearm authorisation system and a new directive on issuing and use of firearms.
- 20 Nov2024Colm Fox inquest hears of ‘endless’ requests from defence team in Regency Hotel trial
Additional inquest evidence from retired Chief Supt Finbar Murphy, Det Insp David Gallagher, Det Garda Fergal O'Flaherty and retired Chief Supt Mark Curran detailing the stress, pressure and specific concerns Colm Fox expressed during the Regency Hotel trial, including his reaction to the voir dire on photographic evidence and his concerns about the pronouncement of death procedures.
victim, Colm Fox, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Fox - 19 Nov2024Det Supt Colm Fox believed he made ‘major error’ while leading Regency Hotel shooting inquiry, inquest told
Inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court heard evidence about Fox's pre-death letter, his workload of 18 serious crime cases, and testimony from colleagues about his stress and state in the days before his death.
victim, Colm Fox, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Fox - 18 Nov2024Wife of tragic Regency murder detective tells inquest: 'Something broke in him'
First day of the inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court, with evidence from Det Supt Fox's widow Edel Fox, his brother Fr Seán Donohoe, sister Gillian Fox, children Rebecca, David and Megan, and Garda colleagues Sgt Michael Ryan and Insp John Collins.
victim, Colm Fox, 56, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Fox - 18 Nov2024Wife of Regency Hotel murder detective tells inquest: 'Something broke in him'
First day of the inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court, with evidence from Edel Fox (widow), Fr Seán Donohoe (brother-in-law), Gillian Fox (sister), Rebecca Fox (daughter), David Fox (son), Megan Fox (sister), Sgt Michael Ryan, and Insp John Collins. The inquest is expected to last four days.