Inquest opens into the death of Levi Cronin - The fourth self inflicted death at HMP Highpoint in an 18 month period

18th March 2016

Bury St Edmunds Farmer’s Club, 10 Northgate St, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 1HQ

Before HM Senior Coroner Peter Dean

Starts 19th October 2016, expected to last 2 weeks

The inquest opens tomorrow into the death of 26 year old Levi Cronin, who died on 20th September 2014. Levi had a history of mental health problems which were known to the prison. He entered HMP Highpoint in August 2014 after a sentence for bike theft in April that year.

Levi was receiving treatment from the prison mental health services and the inquest will consider whether the treatment and support he was provided was adequate. Levi died after using a ligature in the prison shower room.

Levi was the fourth prisoner to die from self inflicted injuries at HMP Highpoint between April 2013 and September 2014.

Inquests into the deaths of David Smith, Steven Trudgill and Callum Brown at HMP Highpoint all expressed concern at the prison's failure to learn lessons and provide a safe environment for vulnerable prisoners.

INQUEST has been working with the family of Levi Cronin since 2014. The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Lawrence Barker from Bindmans Solicitors and Jesse Nicholls from Doughty Street Chambers.

Ends 

 

Notes to editors:

Levi's death was the fourth of four self inflicted deaths at HMP Highpoint between April 2013 and September 2014.
 
Levi Cronin died 20/09/2014 at HMP Highpoint, aged 26
David Smith died 24/05/2014 at HMP Highpoint, aged 38
Steven Trudgill died 09/01/2014 at HMP Highpoint, aged 23
Callum Brown died 08/04/2013 at HMP Highpoint, aged 25

Source: INQUEST Casework and monitoring

• The inquest for David Smith concluded in August 2016
  • The inquest for Callum Brown concluded in January 2016
  • The inquest for Steven Trudgill concluded in May 2016

For further case specific information, please contact Shona Crallan at [email protected].
For media queries, please contact Gill Goodby at [email protected]

Please refer to INQUEST the organisation in all capital letters in order to distinguish it from the legal hearing.

INQUEST provides specialist advice on deaths in custody or detention or involving state failures in England and Wales. This includes a death in prison, in police custody or following police contact, in immigration detention or psychiatric care. INQUEST's policy and parliamentary work is informed by its casework and we work to ensure that the collective experiences of bereaved people underpin that work. Its overall aim is to secure an investigative process that treats bereaved families with dignity and respect; ensures accountability and disseminates the lessons learned from the investigation process in order to prevent further deaths.