Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0869Death in custody · Co. Dublin · 6 Jun 2026

Man in 30s dies in custody at Dublin Garda station

Lee McDonnell, a 34-year-old man, became unresponsive in a cell at a Dublin Garda station on Saturday 6 June 2026 and was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts by gardaí and paramedics failed. He had been arrested earlier that day in the Cherry Orchard area of west Dublin for allegedly breaching bail conditions, and was under active investigation for a slashing attack on a man who swam the River Liffey to escape. Gardai had recently sent a file to the DPP recommending he be charged with murder, but no decision had been made. Fiosrú, the Garda watchdog, received a referral on 6 June 2026 and has launched an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

  1. Reported7 Jun
    3 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Lee McDonnell, a 34-year-old man, became unresponsive in a cell at a Dublin Garda station on Saturday 6 June 2026 and was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts by gardaí and paramedics failed.
Where
The death occurred at a city Garda station in Dublin; McDonnell was from Ballyfermot and was arrested in the Cherry Orchard area of west Dublin.
When
The incident occurred on Saturday, 6 June 2026.
Cause
It is believed McDonnell died of a medical emergency, and gardai are probing whether he died as a direct result of his injuries or some other medical cause.
Investigation
  • Fiosrú received a referral from An Garda Síochána on 6 June 2026, made by a Garda Superintendent under section 203(1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, and its on-call team attended the scene.
  • The coroner has been notified of the death.
Other details
  • McDonnell had more than 130 convictions and was under active investigation for a slashing attack on a man named Griffin, who was slashed in the face and body and swam the River Liffey to escape, though McDonnell had not been arrested over that attack.
  • His arrest on 6 June was for allegedly breaching bail conditions connected to a live case, and gardai had recently sent a file to the DPP recommending he be charged with murder, but no decision had been made.
  • In late 2014 McDonnell escaped from a prison van while serving a nine-year term for aggravated burglary and was on the run for five weeks before being caught after a chase in Clondalkin.
  • He was jailed in 2024 for attacking two gardai in Ballyfermot.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man in his 30s became unresponsive in a cell at a Dublin Garda station on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatResuscitation attempts were made by garda members and later by medical personnel and first responders. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man was pronounced dead after resuscitation attempts failed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcDonnell was 34 years old and had more than 130 convictions (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcDonnell was pronounced dead after gardai and paramedics tried to save him (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGriffin was slashed in the face and on his body and swam the Liffey to escape (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcDonnell was under active investigation for the Griffin attack but had not been arrested over it (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIn late 2014 McDonnell escaped from a prison van while serving a nine-year term for aggravated burglary (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was on the run for five weeks before being caught after a chase in Clondalkin (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was jailed in 2024 for attacking two gardai in Ballyfermot (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA man in his 30s became unresponsive while in a cell in a Dublin Garda station on Saturday. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe man was later pronounced dead. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatAttempts were made by gardaí and medical personnel to revive him. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe death occurred in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whereMcDonnell was from Ballyfermot (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeIt is believed McDonnell died of a medical emergency (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardai believe Carey was shot because he was trying to muscle in on operations run by The Family crime cartel in west Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationFiosrú received a referral from An Garda Síochána on Saturday, 6 June 2026. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe referral was made by a Garda Superintendent under section 203(1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationFiosrú's on-call team of investigators attended the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationFiosrú received a referral from An Garda Síochána on 6 June 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardai are probing whether McDonnell died as a direct result of his injuries or some other medical cause (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardai had recently sent a file to the DPP recommending McDonnell be charged with murder but no decision had been made (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe coroner has been notified. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationFiosrú cannot make further comment as the matter is under investigation under section 208(1)(b) of the Act. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe coroner has been notified of the death. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Jun2026
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, first report
    Garda watchdog Fiosrú investigating death of man in custody in Dublin

    Initial report of a man dying in Garda custody in Dublin; Fiosrú investigation launched following referral under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

    victim, 30s, male
  2. 7 Jun2026
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Moment heavily armed gardai arrest murder suspect who later died in custody

    Article reports on McDonnell's death in custody, his arrest for breaching bail, and provides context on his suspected involvement in the Thomas Griffin slashing attack and the Gary Carey murder, as well as his extensive criminal history including a 2014 prison van escape and a 2024 conviction for attacking two gardai.

    victim, Lee McDonnell, 34, male, irish (judged from name)Lee McDonnell
  3. 7 Jun2026
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Garda watchdog launches investigation into death of man in custody

    Provides details of the Fiosrú referral, including the legal basis (section 203(1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024), that a Garda Superintendent made the referral, and that Fiosrú's on-call team attended the scene.

    victim, 30s, male