Inmate Found Dead at Troubled Prison with Vomit On Him
An inmate at the controversial HMP Parc in Bridgend was discovered dead with vomit on him, as revealed in an inquest opening. The 51-year-old, David Carl Ridgway, passed away on October 7. A spokesman from Pontypridd Coroners’ Court stated that during a welfare check at 1:45 pm on October 7, 2024, staff found Mr. Ridgway unresponsive in his cell, with a small amount of vomit present. Despite CPR efforts for 35 to 40 minutes until paramedics arrived, he was declared dead at 2:39 pm. A post-mortem report by Dr. John Williams at Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital did not provide a provisional cause of death, pending further investigations. Coroner Graeme Hughes adjourned the case for further inquiries.
The private security company G4S, which operates Parc, confirmed that all deaths in custody are investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and the cause of death is determined by the coroner. The situation at HMP Parc has sparked controversy, with 16 inmate deaths reported since late February, along with rioting, drug-related issues, and corruption allegations. Notably, some of the deaths have been linked to drugs or self-harm. Recent arrests of four Parc staff members on suspicion of assault and misconduct in a public office have added to the scrutiny.
Labour MP Ruth Jones, soon to be chairwoman of the UK Parliament’s Welsh Affairs Committee, expressed deep concern over the problems at Parc, leading the committee to re-open its inquiry into Welsh prisons. A recent report highlighted a significant surge in violence at Welsh prisons, with Parc registering a sharp increase. G4S stated that despite the challenges, they have been implementing positive changes at Parc, particularly in staffing, safety, security, drugs, regime, and respect over the past four months.
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(Article sourced from walesonline.co.uk)