AN inquest has heard claims a Maghaberry inmate was bullied by a prison officer on the day of his death.
Daniel McConville (22), a father of two from Lurgan, was found unresponsive in his cell on August 28 2018.
A jury inquest began on Monday, with a fellow prisoner among the first witnesses to give evidence - who claimed a prison officer had slapped a tray of food out of Mr McConville’s hands and shoved him forcefully back into his cell.
The death was investigated by Prison Ombudsman Lesley Carroll, concluding last March that greater care was needed for prisoners with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
She was unable to verify claims he had been bullied and assaulted by prison staff, concluding it was more likely “at least in part” that his behaviour was challenging and staff were unaware of his background.
With 80 previous convictions, Mr McConville was a remand prisoner accused of burglary at the time of his death.
He had spells of custody as a minor in Hydebank Wood and a history of self-harm, drug abuse and depression.
After 70 days of detention, he had several health assessments and moved cells seven times – with reports of challenging behaviour, altercations with other staff and losing privileges after breaking prison rules.
At the time of his death, he was considered at “increased risk” of self-harm and suicide.
The ombudsman’s report had also found another risk factor was that he had not taken his prescribed anti-depressant medications in the week before his death.
Prison records at the time showed that checks were carried out every 30 minutes from 9.05pm until he was found unresponsive at 11.04pm, being pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
Appearing via videolink from Maghaberry Prison, inmate Roy Kerr told the inquest of an incident he witnessed outside Mr McConville’s cell around 4pm on the day of his death.
His statement described hearing raised voices, then seeing Mr McConville holding a tray of food at the door of his cell while a prison officer told him “you’ll get whatever meal you’re given”.
He added that the prison officer then slapped the plate out of Mr McConville’s hands and over his shoulder, then shoved him into his cell using a sharp chopping motion close to his neck and shoulder area.
Mr Kerr then said he was told by the officer to go back to his own landing, where he told other inmates that the commotion had been the prison officer “at his bullying again”.
Senior counsel for the coroner, Aidan Sands KC, described another incident earlier on August 28 where Mr McConville had been abusive towards a prison officer and proceeded to damage his cell, for which he was to be charged with destroying property and abusive language.
In contrast, Mr Kerr said his impression of Mr McConville had been of “one of the most quietest, polite prisoners I’ve ever known in my life”.
He also said that Mr McConville had spoken to him two days before his death about thoughts of self harm, to which he had informed him about a listening service offered by some prisoners.
The inquest continues.
