Missed opportunity in inmate's care, inquest finds

Craig Anderson was found unresponsive in his cell the morning after he was sentenced

There was a "missed opportunity" in the care of an inmate who was found dead at the Isle of Man Prison, an inquest jury has ruled.

Craig Anderson, 28, was found unresponsive in his cell on the morning of 25 November 2022, the day after he was jailed for five years.

The jury found putting Mr Anderson back on a risk-management file for self-harm or placing him under overnight observations, neither of which was done, "possibly could have made a difference".

The Isle of Man government has been contacted for a response.

The inquest previously heard that Mr Anderson had been placed on the prison's self-harm risk management policy, known as a folder five, on a number of occasions while in custody but was not under the assessment when he died.

That policy would have restricted his access to certain items and made him subject to regular observations.

The inquest heard Mr Anderson had been taken off the policy on 18 November, but the situation had been due for review on 25 November, the day he was found dead.

'Tragic loss'

He had been sentenced to five years in prison the previous day for attacking another man with a craft knife.

Douglas Courthouse heard while he had punched a cell wall at the court following the hearing and was upset about not being able to see his children, prison officers said he had been "calm" when he returned to the Jurby facility that day.

He was found unresponsive in his cell the following morning.

The jury concluded Mr Anderson died by suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

Delivering a narrative verdict, the jury found "there was a missed opportunity to render care which possibly would have made a difference when Craig's folder five was not reopened or he was not placed on overnight observations on 24 November 2022".

However, they did not find his death was contributed to by neglect.

Closing the inquest, Deemster Graeme Cook passed on his condolences to Mr Anderson's family and told them it was a "tragic loss".

"Nothing can replace your son," he added.