A tragic incident has occurred at HMP Cardiff, where a prisoner named Decland Mooney, aged 64, was found dead in his cell after staff failed to carry out a vital welfare check. According to an ombudsman report, Mr. Mooney should have been checked on 30 minutes before he was discovered unresponsive. Initially remanded to the prison in October 2020 on assault charges, Mr. Mooney tragically passed away on December 6 of that year due to pneumonia caused by emphysema.
The report revealed that a prison officer had seen Mr. Mooney apparently adjusting his shoes in his cell at around 7 am, with the prisoner acknowledging the officer. However, it wasn’t until about 9.30 am that another officer found Mr. Mooney unresponsive, curled around the toilet and bleeding from the nose. Despite immediate efforts to revive him, Mr. Mooney was pronounced dead at 10.02 am.
Acting prisons ombudsman Kimberley Bingham expressed concerns in her report regarding the lack of a welfare check on Mr. Mooney when his cell was being unlocked, highlighting the importance of ensuring prisoners’ safety and well-being during such procedures. The report also outlined previous incidents involving Mr. Mooney, including self-harm monitoring and the discovery of alcohol in his cell, which led to disciplinary actions.
Additionally, the report detailed Mr. Mooney’s daughter’s assertion that he had mentioned facing forceful treatment by prison officers before his demise. Despite the lack of clear records on the use of force, the report raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Mooney’s death and recommended improvements in mental health decision documentation and record-keeping on use-of-force incidents.
The systemic lack of clarity in the prison’s policy on welfare checks was highlighted, with recommendations made for the prison’s governance to ensure thorough checks on prisoners’ safety during unlocking procedures. Although the report noted that these lapses may not have directly caused Mr. Mooney’s death, they could potentially impact future cases.
The tragic loss of Decland Mooney serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of thorough welfare checks in correctional facilities to prevent such distressing incidents in the future.