An investigation is under way into how a 51-year-old man who was arrested early today ended up unconscious, with serious head injuries, in the cell of a garda station in Cork city.
The Russian man is in a critical condition in hospital.
An garda superintendent from outside the division has been appointed to investigate.
The man was arrested at around 6.30am this morning in the Victoria Cross area of the city on suspicion of causing criminal damage in the area.
It is understood he had drink taken and was violent.
He was taken to Togher Garda Station and placed in a cell and is said to have been checked a number of times before he was found at 8.20am lying on the floor of his cell.
He had head injuries and was unconscious and he is now in a critical condition at Cork University Hospital.
In accordance with standard garda procedures, a superintendent from outside the Cork city division has been appointed to investigate what happened from the time the man was arrested to his discovery unconscious in the garda cell two hours later.
Superintendent Pat McCarthy from Mallow is appealing for witnesses who may have seen the man in the Victoria Cross area between 6am and 7am this morning to contact the gardaí.
