CCTV footage of checks on a Derry sex offender who was found hanging in his cell at Maghaberry Prison almost five years ago is to be shown to an inquest into his death.
Magheraberry Prison.
John Deery (50} was in a “collapsed state” when he was discovered at the high-security prison in August 2009. He died later in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
A preliminary inquest hearing was told witnesses would include the investigating officer from the Ombudsman’s office to present the evidence of their investigation.
This is to include a comparison between video recordings and the timings of checks on the prisoner as recorded on official files.
In 2010, an investigation by Prison Ombudsman Pauline McCabe found a number of failings by staff who were supposed to be monitoring Mr Deery.
These included recording observations had been carried out when they had not, and staff using the phone or computer when they were supposed to be conducting observations.
The report also revealed recommendations made after the death of another prisoner, Colin Bell, in the summer of 2008 had not been implemented at the time of Mr Deery’s death.
In October 2009, four healthcare staff at the prison were suspended after an investigation into the death by Service Director General Robin Masefield who said he was “deeply concerned” at what had been uncovered.
He was jailed in 2003 after he admitted indecently assaulting five girls between 1975 and 2002.
He had served his sentence but shortly before his death he was ordered back to prison for a breach of a probation order and was described as a “vulnerable” prisoner.
He was being held in a cell in the prison healthcare facility. It is thought he hanged himself.
A court hearing in 2003 was told Deery had attempted suicide while being held on remand and was at continuing risk of suicide while in custody.
