Home Office 'missed opportunities' over barge death

The Dorset Police investigation into Leonard Farruku's death found there was "no evidence of third-party involvement"

The Home Office "missed opportunities" to assess the mental health of an asylum seeker before he was moved on to the Bibby Stockholm where he took his own life, a coroner has concluded.

Leonard Farruku, 27, was found dead on the government's former accommodation barge for migrants at Portland Port, Dorset, on 12 December 2023.

A post-mortem examination found he had died as a result of compression to the neck and suspension by ligature.

A Home Office spokesperson said it would "carefully consider the coroner's findings when they are made available".

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin said Mr Farruku had not made any complaints about the accommodation.

Speaking at the hearing in Bournemouth, she also said he had not been subject to "racism or inappropriate acts" while onboard.

Mr Farruku's sisters Marsida Keci and Jola Dushku have questioned how he was allowed to be moved to the Bibby Stockholm in November 2023, having struggled with his mental health since the death of their parents.

The inquest heard that Mr Farruku began to show aggressive behaviour while staying in a hotel in Paignton, Devon, in July 2023.

Concerns were forwarded to the Home Office, but were not placed on its Atlas immigration case-working system, the coroner said.

Ms Griffin said the government had criteria that any resident who had more than primary health care needs, either medical or around mental health, should not be housed on the barge because of its remote location.

"Unless recorded there it would not be available to staff conducting subsequent assessments, who would, at very least, then be alerted to a need to consider and look further into the mental health issues raised," she said.

"It should have led to a further inquiry about Leonard's suitability, it was a missed opportunity of the Home Office not to take any action."

The Bibby Stockholm housed male asylum seekers at Portland Port

The inquest heard Mr Farruku had requested to be returned to his home country in order to receive mental health support there, but he later changed his mind.

He also declined offers of referrals to mental health services and failed to attend when a first response team was sent to the hotel to help him.

The coroner said there was only "weak evidence" that he had suffered a psychotic disorder, instead describing him as a "quiet man who was miserable at his life situation".

"One can only guess what motivated him to come to the UK and risk his life in a small boat," she said.

"I cannot say to what extent any aspiration he held had been diminished by his experience in the UK and in particular his response to being a destitute asylum seeker after being in the UK for 16 months."

Leonard Farruku was found dead in a shower cubicle on the Bibby Stockholm barge

Ms Griffin said she would not be issuing a prevention of future deaths report, as there was no similar barge accommodation in use since Bibby Stockholm's decommissioning in December.

"Since Leonard's death changes have been made to policies and procedures around the assessment processes of Devon Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Home Office suitability criteria and I have been reassured that if changes have not been made, they are imminently to be completed or rolled out," she said.

"I would remind those at the Home Office that there is clear understanding by all those involved in accommodating asylum seekers of the processes in place, particularly around the expectations of medical assessment and treatment."

The Home Office spokesperson added: "This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with Leonard's family and everyone affected."

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