Overview
- A male inmate was found dead in his cell at Wheatfield Prison following an assault on Thursday 13 August 2026 and prison authorities have confirmed a death in custody.
- Gardaí have launched a formal criminal inquiry, appointed a Senior Investigating Officer and requested the Garda National Technical Bureau to examine the scene.
- The Coroner's Office has been notified and the body will be taken to a mortuary for a post-mortem that will guide whether charges or further criminal steps follow.
- Several media outlets have named the deceased as Brendan Gahan and reported a single neck wound causing fatal blood loss, but those specifics remain unconfirmed by the post-mortem and investigators.
- The Irish Prison Service expressed condolences, said next of kin have been informed and noted that deaths in custody are routinely investigated by the IPS, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána.