Prisoner not checked on overnight, inquest hears

Craig Anderson was found dead in his cell in November 2022

An inmate found dead in his cell was not was not checked on overnight because he had been taken off a list of vulnerable prisoners, an inquest has heard.

Craig Anderson, 28, was found dead at the Isle of Man Prison on the morning of 25 November 2022, the day after he was sentenced to five years in jail.

Mr Anderson had been on a self-harm risk management policy until a week before his death, which meant he had previously been subject to observations during the night and had restricted access to items.

Although another inmate said he now considered that Mr Anderson putting his television on full volume could have been a "call for help", a senior prison officer said while he noticed the TV was on it had not been "loud".

Ciaran Ball, who was senior prison officer and supervisor on 24 November, said it was "not unusual" for prisoners to have their televisions on at night as many used it as a light.

Patrols

Mr Ball said that he had patrolled A wing, where Mr Anderson was residing, twice during his shift at about 21:30 and 02:30 GMT.

Douglas Courthouse heard patrols were carried out in turns twice an hour by the group of officers on duty overnight, primarily to check the security of the prison.

Observations, which is a risk-management policy for prisoners classified as vulnerable, were also be carried out during that time, the inquest heard.

However, Mr Ball told the court, unless prisoners were under observations - or there had been a cause for alarm such as a loud noise - in-cell checks did not take place during the night so as not to disturb prisoners' sleep.

Prison officer Stephen Corkish said Mr Anderson had contacted staff via the intercom to query whether the phone systems were down at some point between 20:45 and 21:30 on 24 November, and and had been in a "buoyant mood".

In a statement, prisoner Connor Lewis, who had been in the cell next to Mr Anderson, said that the two would communicate through the radiators and had been in contact on that night.

The court heard Mr Lewis had later noticed that the 28-year-old's television was on full volume, which he said was "unusual", so had tapped on the radiator but got no response.

Mr Anderson was found unresponsive and "cold to the touch", with the television still on, at 07:30 GMT the next morning, the court heard.

The inquest at Douglas Courthouse continues.