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Prisoner Ombudsman: Shortfalls in Frances McKeown's care | Prisoner Ombudsman: Shortfalls in Frances McKeown's care |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The Prisoner Ombudsman has found there were "serious shortfalls" in the care of an inmate who took her own life. | The Prisoner Ombudsman has found there were "serious shortfalls" in the care of an inmate who took her own life. |
Frances McKeown, 23, died in Hydebank Wood in south Belfast in May 2011. | Frances McKeown, 23, died in Hydebank Wood in south Belfast in May 2011. |
She had suffered severe mental health problems for a number of years and had told prison staff and health workers she intended to kill herself. | She had suffered severe mental health problems for a number of years and had told prison staff and health workers she intended to kill herself. |
The Prisoner Ombudsman, Pauline McCabe, said Ms McKeown did not see a psychiatrist until more than six months after she went into the prison. | |
Mrs McCabe also said there was evidence other inmates bullied Frances McKeown after they believed she had told prison staff she saw a male officer kissing a female prisoner. | Mrs McCabe also said there was evidence other inmates bullied Frances McKeown after they believed she had told prison staff she saw a male officer kissing a female prisoner. |
But the ombudsman said it was "unlikely" that the bullying was a "direct cause" of her death. | But the ombudsman said it was "unlikely" that the bullying was a "direct cause" of her death. |
However, Mrs McCabe said the prison authorities' investigation into Frances McKeown's allegation was "wholly inadequate". | However, Mrs McCabe said the prison authorities' investigation into Frances McKeown's allegation was "wholly inadequate". |
As a result, the governor of Hydebank Wood was suspended and charged with misconduct. | As a result, the governor of Hydebank Wood was suspended and charged with misconduct. |
He is not named in the report, but he is Gary Alcock, who is now working elsewhere in the Prison Service. | He is not named in the report, but he is Gary Alcock, who is now working elsewhere in the Prison Service. |
'Failures' | 'Failures' |
His old job has now been advertised. | His old job has now been advertised. |
Ms McKeown was in jail awaiting sentencing after being convicted in relation to a hijacking. | |
She died on the same night as another prisoner, Samuel Carson, took his life in another part of Hydebank Wood. | |
Ms McKeown kept a journal and wrote letters in jail, in which she recorded details of suicidal thoughts and criticised the prison's healthcare regime. | |
They were found after her death and extracts from her writings are included in the ombudsman's report. | |
Ms McKeown's husband Brian has said that while the Prisoner Ombudsman is right to acknowledge the efforts which staff made to support his wife, he is "deeply distressed" by "glaring failures". | |
He is planning to sue the authorities. | He is planning to sue the authorities. |
Mrs McCabe identified 18 "matters of concern" for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and the Prison Service. | Mrs McCabe identified 18 "matters of concern" for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and the Prison Service. |
The trust has said it accepts the report's findings and has made a number of improvements to prison health care. | |
These have included establishing a mental health team working across Northern Ireland's three prisons and recruiting additional staff. | These have included establishing a mental health team working across Northern Ireland's three prisons and recruiting additional staff. |
Brendan Whittle, director of adult services and prison healthcare at the trust, said that on the day before she died, Frances had received one-to-one counselling which was "reported to have gone well" and gave "no indication that she was about to take her own life". | |
"The prison is not a hospital and the prison healthcare service is not a hospital within the prison. It's simply nurses and doctors doing their best to care for people in a very difficult setting," Mr Whittle told BBC Radio Ulster. | |
'Vulnerable' | |
He said that posed "a much broader question" about "whether or not someone in Frances' circumstances should be committed to prison in the first place". | |
However, Mr Whittle said it was not a question for the trust to answer. | |
"We know from history how hard it is to prevent someone taking their own life when they want to do so, and this is even harder when someone is in custody - especially someone so vulnerable as Frances, with a troubled past. | |
"Within healthcare in prisons we can mitigate the risks - and the reforms that we have put in place will help us to do that - but we can never eliminate the risks," Mr Whittle added. | |
The Prison Service has also said it is addressing the issues in the report, especially the ombudsman's concern that Frances McKeown was locked up too much. | The Prison Service has also said it is addressing the issues in the report, especially the ombudsman's concern that Frances McKeown was locked up too much. |
Director General Sue McAllister said: "I recognise that lock-downs cause difficulties for some prisoners, particularly those who are vulnerable. | |
"It is my intention to work with governors to reduce the amount of lock downs to an absolute minimum and only use them as a last resort." | "It is my intention to work with governors to reduce the amount of lock downs to an absolute minimum and only use them as a last resort." |
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