Government to 'consider coroner's prison recommendations'

Three prisoners died at the Isle of Man Prison in Juby between March 2020 and February 2023

Changes to mental health support and increased inmate observations put forward by a coroner following inquests into two deaths at the Isle of Man Prison have been welcomed by the government.

It follows a letter issued to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Manx Care by Deemster Graeme Cook, who presided over the inquests, outlining suggested improvements.

In a statement the department said it would "review and consider" the letter alongside ongoing actions flowing from inspections of the prison by His Majesty's Inspector of Prisons and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

Craig Anderson, 29, died the day after he was sentenced in November 2022, while Christopher Corkill, 46, died in February 2023. A third prisoner, Kaan Douglas, died at the facility in March 2020.

Among the coroner's suggestions were the closer monitoring of prisoners after being sentenced, improved access to mental health professionals, and the automatic sharing of healthcare records with prison staff upon an inmate's arrival.

'More robust approach'

The DHA statement said several changes had been made "to improve the way that vulnerable people are treated in prison" since the deaths.

A new prisoner self-harm management policy called the Assessment, Care in Custody, Teamwork had been introduced, which provided a "more robust approach to supporting vulnerable prisoners", and an improvement to prisoner healthcare, it said.

"We offer our deepest sympathy and apologies to the families of Kaan, Craig and Christopher and hope they will be allowed to grieve in peace now the formal proceedings have concluded", the statement added.

The DHA and Manx Care have until 10 October to respond detailing any actions they intended to take.