HM Inspectorate of PrisonsThe “truly shocking” death of a prisoner who set himself on fire in his cell while trying to smoke the drug spice has led to heavy criticism from the prisons watchdog.
Kevin Delahunty, 40, died in hospital on 29 March 2018, four days after suffering third degree burns at HMP Risley in Warrington, Cheshire.
An investigation concluded Mr Delahunty, from Bradford, had most likely accidentally set fire to his clothes while lighting a makeshift pipe using an electrical socket in his cell.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) criticised the “ease” with which the convicted burglar had been able to obtain psychoactive substances behind bars.
A fatal incident report from deputy ombudsman Elizabeth Moody said he had been found under the influence of spice more than 13 times in the 12 months before his death.
A coroner also noted the prison had prior knowledge of the “unsafe ignition method” Mr Delahunty had been using at the time of his death.
Mr Delahunty, who was serving a five-year sentence, had also been treated in August 2017 after falling asleep “with something burning in his hand” while smoking drugs.
“The details of this investigation are truly shocking,” Ms Moody wrote.
Ms Moody noted that Mr Delahunty’s family only found out he had been taken to hospital after receiving a message on social media – and when they phoned the prison to ask for more information they were told that was not possible for “security reasons”.
She described the availability of drugs in the jail as “very troubling” and said “more needed to be done” to eradicate the substances.
The report also noted HMP Risley was struggling to stop drugs being smuggled into the prison in drones.
However, Ms Moody acknowledged managers had “taken very significant steps” to reduce drug supply since Mr Delahunty’s death.
She said the extent of drug use in prisons was a national problem, adding: “I will be returning to this topic before long if serious action is not taken by the Ministry of Justice.”
Staff left ‘traumatised’
The report found how at 17:25 GMT a prison support worker on the landing outside Mr Delahunty’s cell had smelled burning.
She then looked through the hatch in his cell door and saw him with “flames rising from the back of his t-shirt”.
Prison officers noted the fire had burned away nearly all of his upper clothing.
Mr Delahunty was taken to hospital, where he was found to have suffered 28% third degree burns and was placed into an induced coma.
The report said he developed multi-organ failure leading to his death.
Ms Moody said some staff at the prison were left “very traumatised” by Mr Delahunty’s death and had been offered counselling.
An inquest, which concluded last month, recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure.
The PPO report found there was a lack of information sharing about Mr Delahunty’s drug use, even after several occasions when he was found so intoxicated it was declared a medical emergency.
The prison has since developed an action plan with details of increased training for staff.
The Ministry of Justice had been contacted for comment.