Michael McDonagh was "failed" by HMP Forest Bank, his mum Margaret Pomeroy says, after an inquest heard misadministration of his methadone prescription led to his death
Michael McDonagh has been described as a 'kind and sensitive' man
A young man died after "serious failings" at an understaffed prison led to the misadministration of methadone, an inquest heard.
Michael McDonagh, 27, had been given the drug at HMP Forest Bank where medical professionals failed to carry out adequate enquiries into his dependence on and tolerance to opiate medication. They also failed to monitor him in the days that followed in line with prison and national health guidelines and the latter, the inquest heard, probably contributed to Michael’s death.
The young man, known to family and friends as Mickey, was found unresponsive in his cell and, despite attempts to revive him, he was declared dead. A post-mortem concluded Michael died as a result of Bronchopneumonia, precipitated by acute central nervous system depression resulting from the combination of drugs in his system which included four prescription drugs, of which one recently commenced was methadone.
Michael wasn't monitored properly after he was prescribed methadone
Michael was 'failed' by the prison, his mum said
Michael was 'failed' by the prison, his mum said
HM Assistant Coroner for Manchester West, Lisa Judge, said "serious failings" at the jail, a private prison operated by Sodexo Services Limited, contributed to the tragedy. She heard from more than 40 witness during the inquest, which lasted nearly two weeks at Manchester Bolton Coroner’s Court.
Speaking after this, Michael’s mother, Margaret Pomeroy, said: “HMP Forest Bank failed my son. I have been campaigning for over four years to get this inquest heard, to find out what happened to Mickey. It should never have come to this.
"Mickey was a prisoner, but he deserved to be treated with care and kindness, just like any other person. I cannot understand how a mistake like this was allowed to happen by the people that were supposed to be taking care of him. The day that they handed him methadone they handed him a death sentence.
"This verdict will not bring Mickey back but I hope that lessons will be learned so that no one else has to die in this way. I do not want another family to have to go through what we have gone through. Although Mickey had his struggles, he was a kind and sensitive boy. He had his whole life ahead of him. We will never forget the happiness and laughter he brought into our home and we are grateful every day for the time we got to share with him. I feel his loss every single day."
Sodexo says on its website HMP Forest Bank offers a 'safe, decent, and secure' environment
Sodexo says on its website HMP Forest Bank offers a 'safe, decent, and secure' environment
The hearing concluded on Friday, just hours before "runaway" prisoner Daniel Khalife was snagged by police days after allegedly absconding from London's HMP Wandsworth, which too is said to be under-staffed and overcrowded.
And lawyers representing Michael's family in his case are unsurprised such a blunder was made, having heard about the "chaotic environment" at HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Cormac McDonough, partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, said: “We welcome the decision of the jury and hope that this case highlights the need for urgent improvements in healthcare within the prison system. Michael deserved a much better standard of care than he received and every inmate deserves the right to serve their time in a safe environment.
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"The inquest evidence portrayed HMP Forest Bank as a somewhat chaotic environment, with a chronically understaffed and underfunded mental healthcare system, and with absent process to ensure basic checks occurred after methadone prescription mid-sentence. It is unsurprising that mistakes happened in this context. It is a tragedy that it happened to Michael in this way. My thoughts are with Michael’s family, whose bravery and determination to get answers and justice for Michael has led to these serious issues being brought to public attention."
An HMP Forest Bank spokesperson said: "Our thoughts continue to be with Mr McDonagh’s family and friends. While many changes and improvements have been made in the prison over the course of the four years since his death, we will consider the jury’s findings and conclusions with great care and continue to build on progress made."
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