Circumstances Of Death Of Marcus Mcguire In Controversial Birmingham Prison To Be Explored As Inquest Opens

Before HM Coroner Emma Brown
Birmingham and Solihull Coroners Court
50 Newton St, Birmingham B4 6NE 

Opens 10 June 2019
Scheduled for five – six days

Marcus McGuire was 35 years old when he died on 24 April 2018. He was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Birmingham and pronounced dead shortly after. His was one of eighteen self-inflicted deaths at the prison since 2008, which was being run by the private provider G4S. Following concerns HMPPS took over the running of the prison in August 2018 and  in April 2019 it was announced G4S’s contract would be terminated early.  

Marcus had a history of mental ill health. He had been detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act prior to his recall to prison in October 2017.  His death was one of three self-inflicted deaths at the prison in an 18 month period. Marcus had been hospitalised following a serious act of self-harm on 19 March, five weeks before his death. Monitoring for suicide and self-harm risk (under ACCT procedures) had been stopped prior to his death.  

The inquest will explore how Marcus was managed under self-harm and suicide prevention procedures, the assessment and management of his mental health and his presentation during the night prior to him being found dead.

HMP Birmingham has been subject to significant scrutiny in recent years, with HM Inspectorate of Prisons issuing an Urgent Notification to the Government highlighting poor and unsafe conditions just a few months after Marcus’ death.  The Inspectorate noted in August 2018 that “Case management of prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm was poor, the response to previous PPO recommendations had not been sustained and prisoners at risk of self-harm we spoke to did not feel well cared for.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, interview requests and to note your interest, please contact Lucy McKay on 020 7263 1111 or lucymckay@inquest.org.uk  

INQUEST has been working with the family of Marcus McGuire since April 2018. His family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group member Clair Hilder of Deighton Pierce Glynn, and Nick Stanage of Doughty Street Chambers.

Other Interested persons represented at the inquest are G4S, Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust and Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust.

HMP Birmingham:

• Marcus’ death was one of three self-inflicted deaths at the prison in an 18 month period. His death followed those of:
  • John Delahaye, 33, who died on 5 March 2018. See media reports.
  • Craig Hughes, 42, who died on 11 June 2017. See PPO report.

• In August 2018 HM Inspectorate of Prisons issued an Urgent Notification to the Government highlighting poor and unsafe conditions at HMP Birmingham. Following this notification, HM Prison and Probation Services took over the running of the prison for an initial six month period.
• In April 2019 G4S were stripped of their contract to run HMP Birmingham. G4S agreed to pay £9.9 million to cover the cost of the ‘step-in’ action. G4S has been awarded the contract to run the prison in 2011, which was intended to be for a 15 year period. See media reports.