Jail bosses could face inquiry after prisoner hangs himself

TWO prison governors could face a disciplinary inquiry yesterday after a damning report revealed that an inmate on suicide watch hanged himself in a secure unit where staff slept on duty.

Governor Alan Longwell and his deputy, Steve Davis, of Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim, will be the first jail bosses in the North to be investigated if the recommendations are accepted.

Prisoner Ombudsman Pauline McCabe’s report revealed that staff slept on makeshift beds, smoked and watched TV in a special unit where inmate Colin Bell hanged himself last August.

The 34-year-old, jailed for an attack in which a man was burned to death, had a history of self-harm.

Today’s report said investigators viewed footage of officers who were supposed to be monitoring live video links to cells.

“The secure pod officer can be observed preparing and using a makeshift bed,” said the report.

“He and other officers (four at one point) can be observed sitting, chatting, smoking cigarettes, using the computer and watching television.”

The report revealed that Bell made repeated attempts to call the Samaritans using a special link in his cell and that he wrapped toilet paper round his feet to stay warm.

After repeated suicide attempts, he killed himself in his cell but his body lay for nearly 40 minutes before it was discovered.

The ombudsman said Bell was taken to an observation cell for his own protection, but the Prison Service may have used the move as a punishment.

It was found that prior to his death the prisoner was kept in the cell for six continuous days and for 40 days in the previous five months.

The ombudsman made 44 recommendations including:

* Northern Ireland prison staff to be made aware of the policies relating to observation cells and self-harm and suicide prevention.

* Officials to ensure all safer/observation cells are, as far as possible, free from ligature points.

The ombudsman’s inquiry found that on the evening of July 31 officers were not carrying out the 15-minute interval checks expected.

The cell where Bell was contained a button for calling the Samaritans, which he pressed 73 times between July 30 and July 31.

“Evidence suggests that around 63 of these presses resulted in an engaged tone,” said the report.

“There is no evidence of any intervention in response to this level of attempted contact with the Samaritans.”