The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.PRESS RELEASE

Friday 11 May 2012

The inquest into the death of Paul Murphy is due to commence on Monday 14^th May 2012, at Lincoln Crown Court, The Castle, Castle Hill, Lincoln LN1 3GA, before HM Coroner for Lincoln, Stuart Fisher.

Paul was 39 years old when he died on 13 June 2008 after being found hanging in his cell at HMP Lincoln.  He had been moved to the Vulnerable Prisoners Wing as he had got into debt with other prisoners and feared reprisals. On 12 June he was made subject to his third ACCT document (Assessment, Care in Custody, and Teamwork – the system used for prisoners who are at risk of self harm) after expressing further fears of harm from others, displaying paranoid behaviour and threatening to cut his wrists. Overnight he was subject to minimal checks and not placed in a safer cell.

Paul’s family hope that the inquest will explore the quality of the care he received on 12/13 June, and any possible links with a prison officer suspended the following month, and ultimately dismissed, for trafficking drugs and mobile phones within the prison.

The inquest is scheduled to last for two weeks.

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The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.PRESS RELEASE
9 May 2012

Helen Shaw, INQUEST co-director said:

“It is deeply regrettable that the government is pursuing proposals to extend the use of closed material procedureUsed in a small number of specialist proceedings, for example control orders and deportation of foreign nationals on national security grounds. Takes place entirely in private, before a judge with the claimant and their legal representative, public and press excluded from the court.s.

“It has been clearly demonstrated that they have not been necessary in relation to inquests, as the Joint Committee on Human Rights unanimously concluded last month.”

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Notes to editors:

INQUEST’s evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights can be accessed here

INQUEST provides a general telephone advice, support and information service to any bereaved person facing an inquest and a free, in-depth complex casework service on deaths in custody/state detention or involving state agents and works on other cases that also engage article 2 of the ECHR and/or raise wider issues of state and corporate accountability. INQUEST’s policy and parliamentary work is informed by its casework and we work to ensure that the collective experiences of bereaved people underpin that work. Its overall aim is to secure an investigative process that treats bereaved families with dignity and respect; ensures accountability and disseminates the lessons learned from the investigation process in order to prevent further deaths occurring.

Please refer to INQUEST the organisation in all capital letters in order to distinguish it from the legal hearing.

The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.Our submission to the Parliamentary Justice Select Committee Inquiry into Youth Justice is now available to download ( PDF, 129KB).

The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release 27 April 2012

10am Monday 30 April 2012 before HM Coroner for Barnet, Andrew Walker, sitting at 29 Wood Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 4BE

The inquest into the death of Jane Antoniou (known as Janey Antoniou) will commence on Monday 30 April 2012. It is listed for two weeks.

Early on 23 October 2010 Janey Antoniou, a well known mental health campaigner, was found unresponsive in her room on the Eastlake Ward, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, with a ligature around her neck. Resuscitation was attempted but she failed to regain consciousness. At the time of her death, Jane was detained under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

An investigation into the circumstances of Janey Antoniou’s death was conducted by Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, the same Trust that had responsibility for her care. Objections by her husband, Dr Michael Antoniou, to the lack of independence of that investigation were rejected by the Trust. This is the subject of separate judicial review proceedings, which are currently stayed pending the conclusion of the inquest.

Dr Antoniou welcomes the inquest as a first opportunity to independently examine the facts surrounding his wife’s death and to explore whether she received appropriate levels of care. This includes in the assessment of her risk of suicide and the management of her mental health crisis.

Dr Michael Antoniou is being represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Paul Bowen QC of Doughty Street Chambers, instructed by Tony Murphy of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors. He is supported by INQUEST caseworker Victoria McNally and Heather Hewett of Rethink Mental Illness, where Janey was a valued colleague.

Notes to editors:

Dr Michael Antoniou or his representatives will not be making any comment to the media while the inquest proceedings are ongoing. An obituary for Janey Antoniou can be read online here:

In contrast to all other custody settings, no organisation exists to independently investigate pre-inquest the deaths of those who die in mental heath hospitals. There is no equivalent of the Independent Police Complaints Commission or Prison and Probation Ombudsman to investigate those deaths.

Detailed statistics for the number of deaths of those detained under the Mental Health Act were published for the first time in 2011 by the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody. A report of its statistical analysis can be found at here (PDF). It should be noted that the statistics refer only to the death of patients sectioned at the time of death and do not include those who died whilst ‘de-facto’ detained i.e. those voluntarily admitted where sectioning would have occurred if they had attempted to leave.

From that report:
• 5998 total deaths in state custody were recorded between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2010. Deaths of those detained under the MHA accounted for 61% of that number.
• Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2010, there were 1,444 self inflicted deaths in state custody. 501 deaths were of patients detained under the MHA, of which 61% were male and 39% female.

The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.INQUEST Co-Director Deborah Coles and barrister Leslie Thomas from Garden Court Chambers speak on Investigating Deaths in Custody – Thursday 26 April 6pm – 7.45pm London Metropolitan University

The Henry Thomas Room
London Metropolitan University,
Holloway Road,
London N7 8DB

Deborah Coles and Leslie Thomas have many years’ experience of the investigation of deaths in custody. Deborah is Co-Director of INQUEST, a charity that provides advice and information and specialist casework to bereaved families and their lawyers following contentious deaths. Leslie Thomas is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, who specialises in human rights and public law, with particular emphasis on civil actions against the police and inquests.

Chair: Philip Leach, Director, The Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute

The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.PRESS RELEASE FRIDAY 13 APRIL 2012

The inquest into the death of Daniel Leather is due to commence on Monday 16th April 2012, at Court 6, Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square,  Manchester M3 3FL, before HM Coroner for the city of Manchester, Nigel Meadows.

Daniel was 23 years old when he died on 19th December 2009, after being found hanging in his cell at HMP Manchester. Daniel was recalled to HMP Manchester on the 5th September 2009.  He was placed on an ACCT document as it was considered he may self harm and was at first closely monitored.

Daniel’s family hope that the inquest will answer the following questions;

*        Whether Daniel was adequately assessed by mental health professionals within the prison;

*        Whether Daniel was properly managed by mental health services and the prison staff.

*        Why the prison appeared to refuse to acknowledge Daniels deteriorating mental health and instead treated him a manipulative and disruptive prisoner.

*        Why observations were not increased when his TV was removed from his cell on the 17th December despite the fact that it was down on his ACCT as a trigger event.

The family are being represented at the inquest by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Gemma Vine of Farleys Solicitors LLP and Andrew Bridgman of St Johns Buildings Chambers.

INQUEST has grave concerns about the high numbers of self-inflicted deaths and levels of self harm at HMP Manchester which have led to wide ranging recommendations from both the Prison and Probation Ombudsman and HM Coroner Nigel Meadows.  INQUEST has been involved with many of the deaths that have occurred there in recent years and recently called for an urgent review of practice at the prison.  More information here

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The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.(BBC News online):

Deborah Coles, co-director of Inquest, a charity that advises families after a contentious death said the burial delay was “highly unusual, serving nobody’s interests”.

“The funeral is an important part of the grieving process,” she added.

“It is widely recognised that delays in releasing the body cause unbearable distress to the family, not least to the children involved.”

The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.(The Guardian):

Inquest’s co-director Helen Shaw writes that it is “unconscionable that a bereaved family may be prevented from understanding why their relative died and, where necessary, holding the state to account” (Letters, 5 April). Whatever else it did, even South Africa’s apartheid regime did not inject secret inquests and trials into its legal system. Thirty years ago, in the country’s longest inquest – into the death of Neil Aggett, the only white political detainee to die in security police custody – the verdict was the usual “no one to blame”. Nevertheless, the evidence of torture produced by the family’s counsel, led by George Bizos, had entered the public domain and enabled the later Truth and Reconciliation Commission to name those it held responsible for Neil’s death. Those who loved Neil knew that justice had been cheated, but not the truth. Civil society in South Africa saved the day. Forget the “big society”. We need British civil society to pull out the stops.

Beverley Naidoo
Bournemouth

The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.(The Guardian):

It seems that Ken Clarke doesn’t fully understand his own proposals (Clegg demands rethink on secret justice plans, 4 April). As the joint committee on human rights noted, there is not a shred of evidence to support the introduction of closed material procedureUsed in a small number of specialist proceedings, for example control orders and deportation of foreign nationals on national security grounds. Takes place entirely in private, before a judge with the claimant and their legal representative, public and press excluded from the court.s at inquests. Many high-profile and sensitive inquests, such as that into the deaths of passengers in the 7/7 bombings and the police shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, have been concluded properly within the existing system.

There is an anomaly in relation to inadmissibility of intercept evidence that was highlighted last week by the furore over the Mark Duggan inquest. This can be resolved by the government taking the opportunity to amend the Regulation of Investigative Powers Act as we suggested in our evidence. This same suggestion was made both by the Met in its response to the green paper consultation and also last week by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

It is abundantly clear that the government’s proposals for greater secrecy in inquests are not necessary. It is unconscionable that a bereaved family may be prevented from understanding why their relative died and, where necessary, from holding the state to account.

Helen Shaw
Co-director, Inquest

Read Beverley Naidoo’s response here

The ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, incorporated into UK law as the Human Rights ActThe Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. 1998. All Council of Europe member states including the UK have signed the Convention.(The Independent):

Helen Shaw, co-director of the campaign group Inquest, said: “It is abundantly clear that there is no need for such sweeping changes to the law. The fact that the Government was unable to produce a shred of evidence to support these proposals is testament to that.”