Man, 51, who died in hospital after tragic Dublin city centre incident named locally as garda denies ‘push'
GARDA PROBE Man, 51, who died in hospital after tragic Dublin city centre incident named locally as garda denies 'push'
A MAN who died following an interaction with a Garda on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre has been named locally.
Paul Butler, 51, suffered a serious head injury following the alleged interaction with the cop on Friday morning at around 4.15am.
It's understood the 51-year-old, from Drumcondra, had been standing in O'Connell Street when a Garda patrol car pulled up.
A garda, who was in the patrol car, approached Mr Butler before words were exchanged between the pair.
It's understood that Mr Butler fell and banged his head off the ground.
And it has been reported the garda involved in the incident vehemently denies in anyway pushing Mr Butler.
Mr Butler was rushed to hospital for treatment.
But he died three days after the horrific incident in The Mater Hospital on Monday evening.
Investigators are probing if the Dubliner was pushed or stumbled.
Fiosru, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has commenced a criminal investigation into the incident.
They are appealing for witnesses who may have been around the Holiday Inn at around 4.15am to make contact with them.
Any drivers with dashcam footage should also come forward.
A spokesperson for Fiosru said: 'The incident involved the serious harm of a 51 year old man.
'The man has now died and Fiosru have been liaising with the Dublin City Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist in relation to a post mortem.
'Fiosru thanks members of the public who have already provided information on the incident and is again appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.
'It is vital to the investigation that any persons who witnessed this serious incident contact Fiosru.
'Fiosru would like to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of the Holiday Inn, O'Connell Street, Dublin 1, D01 T2X2 at approximately 04.15am on Friday, 15 August 2025, or any passing vehicles, including taxis that may have dashcam footage from that location and /or on a mobile device.
'Anyone with information which may be of assistance to this independent investigation is asked to contact Fiosru at 0818 600 800 or info@fiosru.ie.'
A Garda spokesperson added: 'An Garda Siochana referred an incident to Fiosru following an interaction between a member of the public and an on-duty Garda member on Friday August 15.'
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