Man who died in prison was under observation

A YOUNG man who died from drug-related pneumonia while he was an inmate at a Dublin prison was under special observation due to risk of overdose at the time of his death, an inquest heard yesterday.

Paul Kelly, 22, of 62 Greenfort Gardens, Clondalkin, was discovered unconscious in his cell at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison on the morning of February 9, 2006, at about 9.20am.

The father of two was rushed to the Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis told Dublin City Coroner’s Court that Kelly died from bronchial pneumonia, most likely caused by drug intoxication.

Toxicology screening revealed a cocktail of drugs in Kelly’s blood and urine, including methadone, a tranquilliser-type drug — benzodiazapine, codeine, as well as breakdown products of heroin and cannabis.

“While this man lay unconscious due to drug intoxication, his breathing became depressed and bronchial pneumonia ensued.

“I believe the acute pneumonia was linked to the consumption of drugs.

“And I would expect that Kelly had been lying deeply unconscious for several hours prior to his discovery,” Dr Curtis told the inquest.

The court heard that Kelly — who was transferred from a basement holding cell to cell 29 on landing D1 the night before he was discovered — was on special observation and had been checked at 15 minute intervals throughout the night of February 8 and the morning of February 9 because of his history of attempted drug overdose.

Prison officer Darren O’Donovan checked Kelly at 15-minute intervals throughout, but nothing suspicious was noted.

Mr O’Donovan noted that Kelly was sleeping above the covers and fully dressed, but he said this “was not unusual for prisoners”.

However, when Kelly’s cellmate, Dean Brazil, who smoked a number of joints with the deceased the previous night, attempted to rouse Kelly at about 9.20am that morning he found he could not wake him.

“I came back from the doctor and he hadn’t moved.

“I knew something was wrong. I touched him.

“His nose was dirty and he had white stuff coming from his mouth,” said Brazil.

He alerted a fellow prisoner, who had knowledge of first aid, Thomas Tuite, and the alarm was raised.

The inquest heard that although prisoners on

special observation (and checked at 15 minute intervals compared with the ‘normal’ 30-minute check) are considered at risk, at no point do prison officers enter their cell unless they see something suspicious.

The inquest also heard evidence about the huge drug problem “rampant” in Mountjoy Prison.

Chief officer Patrick Kavanagh told the court there are “a large number of people in prison who are working against us and a large number of people outside working against us as well”, in a drive to get drugs into the prison.

“If you have inmates who are drug users they will do anything they can to get drugs.

“Drugs are thrown over the wall,” said Mr Kavanagh.

He said that since Kelly’s death a number of measures have been introduced to combat the problem including a sniffer dog.

Nets have also been place in the recreation area to prevent people from successfully throwing drugs into the city centre prison.

A new visitor centre with security comparable to airport security is being built, the inquest heard.

Internal examinations to locate drugs are not performed in Mountjoy in order to preserve the dignity of prisoners and staff and so prisoners try to conceal the drugs in their bodies before consuming them, the court heard.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell adjourned the inquest into Kelly’s death until today to hear further evidence.