Home Office 'did not respond' to asylum barge concerns

Leonard Farruku was found dead on the Bibby Stockholm asylum seeker barge in December 2023

The Home Office did not respond to concerns raised about the mental health of a man who died aboard the Bibby Stockholm before he was transferred to the accommodation barge, an inquest has heard.

The inquest in Bournemouth, Dorset, was told that a post-mortem examination had found that Leonard Farruku, 27, from Albania, died as a result of compression to the neck and suspension by ligature.

He initially lived with two cousins in the UK before moving into a Home Office asylum seekers accommodation, Clearsprings Ready Homes.

Safeguarding team leader Nia Dowd said she had "urgently" emailed Home Office with concerns about his "poor mental health".

The inquest heard Mr Farruku was previously accommodated at the Esplanade Hotel in Paignton, Devon, and began to show aggressive behaviour in July 2023, including damaging furniture in his room, "yelling at staff" and fighting with a fellow resident.

He was also reported to have shown "new behaviours" in August when he made sexual comments to a woman.

Mr Farruku was found unresponsive in a shower cubicle on board the Bibby Stockholm at Portland Port, Dorset, on 12 December 2023.

His sister Marsida Keci and Jola Dushku have questioned how their brother, who they said had struggled with his mental health since the death of their parents, was allowed to be moved.

Home Office transferred the asylum seeker out of Clearsprings Ready Homes care to the Bibby Stockholm

Safeguarding team leader Nia Dowd said staff considered him to have "serious mental health issues".

The inquest heard that Mr Farruku had requested to be returned to his home country in order to receive mental health support but 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.

Ms Dowd said his mental health had been due to be assessed as the hotel was being closed.

But the Home Office transferred him out of their care to the Bibby Stockholm prior to the closure on 3 November along with a number of other men.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Farruku died as a result of compression to the neck and suspension by ligature

In her email to the government, Ms Dowd said she had highlighted his involvement in "multiple incidents".

She said she did not get a response and had not personally been able to follow it up due to being off work for a period of time.

She only learnt of Mr Farruku's death by reading of it in the newspapers.

When asked if the Home Office had made contact with any colleagues at Clearsprings about Mr Farruku, Ms Dowd replied: "I do not believe anybody did."

"It was not my role to challenge any decision they make," she added.

The inquest continues.

If you have been affected by this story or would like support then you can find organisations which offer help and information at the BBC Action Line.