Son of jailed rioter first to die in prison wants to know why he was imprisoned and why suicide attempts were 'not taken seriously'

Ben Habib and Scarlett MccGwire clash in furious row over death of a summer rioter

GB NEWS
Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 01/11/2024

- 07:38

Updated: 01/11/2024

- 11:45

The inmate died at HMP Moorland in South Yorkshire last month

The first of dead of a summer rioter in prison has sparked questions surrounding his imprisonment and why his suicide attempts were "not taken seriously".

Casey Lynch has demanded an investigation into his father's two previous suicide attempts were not addressed sooner, before the inmate was suspected of taking his own life.


An inquest into the grandfather's death heard that Lynch died from hanging at HMP Moorland, South Yorkshire on October 19.

He had been initially jailed for taking part in the riots outside a Holiday Inn Express which accommodated asylum seekers, where he yelled "scum" and "child killers" at police officers.

Damage after summer riots

He had been initially jailed for taking part in the riots outside a Holiday Inn Express which accommodated asylum seekers, where he yelled "scum" and "child killers" at police officers

PA

He was later sentenced to two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court.

Requesting further information regarding the investigation into his father's death, Casey Lynch said: "I’d like it to be investigated whether my dad should’ve been there in the first place."

Additionally, he asked if the coroner could locate the judge's sentencing because he wanted "to know what remarks he made about my dad on sentence."

He also wanted to know why his father's two previous suicide attempts were not "taken seriously" by the necessary authorities.

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Former prison governor Ian Acheson said: “Any death in custody is a tragedy. Not all can be prevented.

"However, the profile of this offender, rightly jailed for his role in rioting, suggests to me he ought to have at least been considered as a suicide risk.

"The investigation which must take place after a fatal incident in a prison will need to explore this in relation to his vulnerability and care."

Casey Lynch and his family were assured that their input would be considered during a full investigation, while she encouraged the rioter's son to provide the questions his family wanted to have answered.

A full inquest will be held at a later date.

Peter Lynch at summer riots; Peter Lynch

Peter Lynch was jailed in August for taking part in the Rotherham riots, causing damage outside a hotel which was housing approximately 240 asylum seekers

PA/South Yorkshire Police

Peter Lynch was jailed in August for taking part in the Rotherham riots after a film retrieved from body-worn camera footage showed him shouting at police, saying: "You are protecting people who are killing our kids and raping them."

Along with over 60 other men, he was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after the riots that left 64 police officers, several dogs and a horse injured.

Outside the hotel that was housing about 240 asylum seekers, rioters attempted to set alight a bin, while the others spent their time smashing the hotel building, leaving staff terrified.

Addressing Lynch during his sentencing, Judge Richardson said: "You did not yourself attack any police officer, as far as can be detected, but what you did was encourage by your conduct others to behave violently and you were part of this mob."

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