Manvers Rioter upset at 'injustice' of being jailed killed himself amid probe into racism claims
“We are satisfied that staff could not have foreseen his actions”
An investigation into the events leading to a Manvers rioter’s death found a disciplinary hearing he was facing could have triggered his decision to take his own life - but “there was little evidence” he posed a suicide risk.
The Prison Ombudsman has published its report into the death of Peter Lynch, who took his own life on October 19, 2024 - two months after he was jailed for his role in the riots at Manvers.
Lynch was among a group involved in disorder at the Holiday Inn Express in August 2024, in opposition to asylum seekers being housed there.
He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for his actions.
He was serving out his sentence at HMP Moorland, in Doncaster, alongside his son, Lewis, who was also jailed for violent disorder.
“Mr Lynch had been at Moorland for almost seven weeks when he was found [dead],” the ombudsman’s report says.
“He had some risk factors for suicide and self-harm but told staff he felt well supported by his family and on the house block.
“Mr Lynch spent frequent periods of association with his son and was due to start education.”
The report details how Lynch had intended to start an English education course on October 21.
But on October 17 he was placed ‘on report’ pending a disciplinary hearing for “using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour contrary to prison rules”.
The report explains: “Prison staff reported that Mr Lynch used racist and inflammatory language about migrants.”
“Mr Lynch’s son told the investigator that he saw Mr Lynch on the houseblock during the afternoon. He did not have any concerns about Mr Lynch’s behaviour but said he seemed quieter than normal.
“Mr Lynch gave his son a hug and returned to his cell.”
The following day he made four calls to his family, but “did not express any thoughts of suicide and self-harm”.
A prison officer attended his cell just after 7pm to share details of the disciplinary hearing, which was the last time Lynch was seen alive.
The following morning, at 6.23am, Lynch was found unconscious, with paramedics arriving and pronouncing him dead by 6.42am.
“Mr Lynch left notes to his family,” the report says.
“He asked for forgiveness and spoke about his love for his family. Mr Lynch also spoke about his frustrations around the circumstances of his prison sentence.”
On September 24, a mental health nurse completed a mental health triage assessment.
She noted that Mr Lynch was tearful because he was frustrated about being in prison and said he felt a strong sense of injustice related to his offence.
The report concludes that while Lynch expressed frustration about his prison sentence, he denied thoughts of suicide and self-harm to staff.
It says that the disciplinary report was possibly “a trigger” for his actions, but adds that he “did not express any particular concerns to staff”.
“We are satisfied that there was little evidence that Mr Lynch’s risk of suicide had significantly risen in the days before his death and that staff could not have foreseen his actions,” the report concludes.”