AN INVESTIGATION IS underway following the death of a man in his 50s while in garda custody in Co Waterford.

The man was discovered unresponsive in a cell in the early hours of Saturday morning according to gardaí.

Urgent assistance was requested, a garda spokesperson said, but the man died despite attempts to resuscitate him.

The Garda Ombudsman, Fiosrú has been notified by gardaí about the fatal incident.

“Despite immediate resuscitative attempts by Garda members and by medical personnel and first responders who attended, the man was later pronounced deceased,” a garda spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added: “As per Garda policy, this matter has been referred to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, under Section 203(1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024.”

The Coroner has since been notified.

In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson for Fiosrú said the agency received a referral from a garda superintendent on Saturday under section 203(1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

“The referral was made as a result of an incident which involved the death of an individual in the Waterford Division,” the Fiosrú spokesperson said.

“Fiosrú’s on call team of investigators have attended the scene, and the team will continue to engage with the family concerned.”

Fiosrú will not make any further comment as the death is now under investigation.