By Owen Pooley for Voices Unheard, A Study of Irish Travellers in Prison, Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, 2011
A prisoner badly missed his family. Every night he called home on a mobile from his cell, said goodnight to his children. Prison staff found the mobile, confiscated it and disciplined the prisoner, known as Mr A. He obtained another mobile, it was confiscated, he got another. The prison’s head of security allegedly told Mr A that if he didn’t tell them how he was getting the illegal phones he wouldn’t be allowed to see his family.
During one search Mr A allegedly assaulted an officer. He spent the night in the segregation unit. Mr A, who had a history of self-harm, told another prisoner that he was very upset, finding it hard to cope. Later he was found hanged in his cell.
