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NO MORE IRISH DEATHS IN CUSTODY

Inquest into the death of Kevin Sheridan
Held at H.M Coroners Court Southwark 5th and 6th December 2001

Verdict Suicide

Members of the Irish deaths in custody campaign attended the hearing to both support the family and record the proceedings. Below is a short statement from the campaign.

We are appalled at the catalogue of mistakes, gross negligence and the total lack of basic care given to Kevin Sheridan during his short period in custody. We feel that this all accumulatively lead to the death of Kevin Sheridan while on remand at Brixton Prison.

  • There was no evidence linking Kevin to the offence for what he was being held on and charged with. Kevin expressed very clearly to his family that he was being fitted up.

  • Insufficient information recorded /shared formally by police staff on duty (The fact that Kevin had self harmed and was suicidal), which had been given to them by Kevin’s widow Mary Sheridan on a number of occasions while he was held in custody at Peckham Police Station.

  • Alterations in a written form made to the Prisoner Escort Record, by person/s unknown, which we feel had an impact on the possible care offered to Kevin.

  • Failure of Medical and care staff to include important recorded information in the assessment of Kevin’s needs.

  • Complete inability of staff to put into practice, basic policy regarding the care and needs of Prisoners who self harm and are suicidal. Thus depriving Kevin of basic care.

  • The failure of prison staff to act on the serious issues raised by Kevin during a one to one session with a staff member on the evening of the 6th February 2001.

  • The failure to use the proper internal alarm system to alert other officers of the need for assistance in the case of emergencies. Thus wasting valuable time in the case of Kevin.

  • Inadequately trained staff unable to administer even the basic emergency care of prisoners.

  • Damaged first aid equipment vital in the resuscitation of Kevin Sheridan.

  • Missing first aid equipment necessary for the revival of Kevin while in Cardiac arrest.

  • Emergency services unable to gain access to the prison leading to the waste of seven minutes, which in Kevin’s case was a matter of life and death.

We feel there is a need to look at all the incidents mentioned above which took place, and why this situation was aloud to happen. Over and over again we see prisoners die in custody, followed by Inquests, which make recommendations. Yet time and time again we witness the prison service refusal to put these recommendations into good working practice in the care of prisoners. As a result of this inaction the very basic human right the right to life is not given to prisoners.

The Lawrence Inquiry very clearly states the presence of Institutional Racism within the Police service, and we would argue that the Prison service is a reflection of the same service. This was proved by a study carried out by the Commission for Racial Equality, carried out within Brixton Prison. The findings of that study clearly showed that the treatment of both Black and Irish prisoners was different from the treatment of other white English prisoners, (that is not to say that their treatment is much better at the best of times).

And that both Irish and Black prisoners were subjected to abuse and ill treatment by the Prison staff.

Brixton Prison staff should know that the last letter to the Governor of Brixton prison by Kevin Sheridan very clearly illustrates that if the staff there had shown even an inch of the compassion that Kevin showed them, he would be alive and a free man today.

We therefore demand the following and hope that you are able to support us in our demands

  1. An Independent Public Inquiry into all deaths in custody.

  2. Full Ethnic Monitoring of all Irish People who are taken into custody.

  3. That the Irish Embassy is informed of the deaths of all Irish People while in custody.

  4. That all individuals are treated with the dignity, care and attention that is necessary for their well being while in the care of the institution which hold them in custody.

  5. The most basic right, the right to life is protected.

 

For further details contact Terry Stewart on 07931844969

e-mail [email protected]