Inquest into death of prisoner found in cell resumes

Christopher Corkill died in February 2023 

A warning that this story contains information which some readers may find distressing.

The inquest into the death of a serving prisoner at the Isle of Man Prison has been reconvened.

46-year-old Christopher Peter Corkill was found dead in February 2023; he’d taken his own life.

At Douglas Courthouse today (15 July) a jury of seven people – three women and four men – was empanelled.

Inquests are heard before a jury if a death occurs in prison or police custody.

The jurors were told Mr Corkill’s death was the third at the Isle of Man Prison since 2021.

Addressing them Coroner of Inquests Graeme Cook said: “This inquest is an inquiry – it is not a trial. No-one is on trial – least of all the deceased.”

‘Vulnerable’

Mr Corkill’s partner of three years was the first person to give evidence at the inquest; she described his death as a ‘huge shock’ and ‘completely unexpected’.

The court heard he’d been serving a custodial sentence for a drug offence since the summer of 2022 and the last time she’d seen him in person had been in December that year.

Between then and February 2023 she told the court he’d been ‘more quiet than normal’ adding that they’d shared a telephone call on 22 February and she’d received a missed call from him the day after.

She also told the jury he’d suffered with his mental and physical health over the years, describing him as ‘vulnerable’, adding: “I kept him safe and he’s died in their custody – it’s pretty shocking.”  

24 February

The court heard Mr Corkill was found unresponsive in his cell, on B-wing, on the morning of 24 February last year by a prison officer.

He told the court he’d had no concerns over Mr Corkill’s mental health, and nothing had been raised to him by other staff members, before he went to unlock the cells.

When he opened cell 14, just after 7.45am, he saw Mr Corkill lying on his bed; when he returned a few minutes later he noted he hadn’t moved and went into the room to check on him.

Mr Corkill was described as being ‘ice cold’.  

The prison officer activated the alarm to summon help and other officers quickly arrived on scene to start CPR but efforts to resuscitate the Ballasalla man were unsuccessful.

Jurors were told Mr Corkill’s cause of death was recorded as asphyxia due to suffocation, by the prison’s forensic physician, and he’d likely been dead for around eight hours.

Observations

The court heard inmates at the prison would be locked up at 5.15pm and unlocked the next day at 7.45am.

Unless concerns had been noted about them there would be no checks on them, except a prisoner count, during this time.

A statement from one prison officer, who was on a night shift on 23 February, said she’d seen Mr Corkill sitting in bed watching TV between 8.15pm and 8.30pm when she’d undertaken this.

At the time patrols of the wing were carried out during the night but individual door checks were not done unless specifically requested due to concerns over physical or mental health.

The jury was told that during other periods of incarceration, and earlier on in this sentence, Mr Corkill had a ‘Folder 5’ opened.

This meant regular observations were carried out to manage risk and provide care for those at risk of suicide or self-harm.

However at the time of Mr Corkill's death no such concerns had been raised and no ‘Folder 5’ was open.

The prison officers who gave evidence at the inquest today said they were confident they could have and would have been able to open such a folder if it had been required.

Officers also told the court that, at the time of Mr Corkill’s death, items from the prison canteen were delivered to cells in plastic bags but the officers were required to take them back.

When quizzed about mental health training for officers several said there was no ‘specific’ training offered to them.

Inquest continues

The inquest will continue at Douglas Courthouse tomorrow (16 July).

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this story there are details of local organisations that provide advice and support HERE.