Terence Wheelock (20) of Summerhill in Dublin died at the Mater hospital in June 2005 after he was found hanging in a garda cell at Store Street station three months previously. He was in a coma by the time he reached hospital. A split jury at an inquest into Mr Wheelock's death in July recorded a verdict of death by suicide.

Gardai told the court that he had attempted to hang himself with a cord from his tracksuit bottoms. His family disputes this and claims he was mistreated in custody.

Solicitor for the family, Yvonne Banbury, told the Sunday Tribune that if an independent inquiry is not granted she will take the case to the High Court on the basis that Ireland is in breach of Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

The family may also challenge the suicide verdict.

Yesterday, the Wheelock family held a public meeting at Our Lady of Lourdes parish hall on Sean McDermott St, where Larry Wheelock discussed his family's desire "to find out exactly what happened to Terence behind closed doors".