The family of a man who was found dead in his cell are set to finally get answers over how he died.
Raymond Lucy was 63-years-old when he was found dead in his cell in Forest Bank on July 11, 2019. A formal investigation was opened into his death on July 16, with an inquest into Mr Lucy's death opening on January 2, 2020.
The opening heard a pathologist listed Mr Lucy's cause of death as pre-existing lung conditions but his family believe it 'could and should' have been avoided with 'proper medical care'. A heartbreaking series of delays meant that the Chadderton man's family have had to wait almost three years for answers, though, with the coronavirus pandemic halting hearings for over six months.
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At the time, senior coroner Timothy Brennan apologised to Ms Margaret Murphy, Mr Lucy's former wife who has now reverted to using her maiden name, for the series of delays, explaining that Bolton Coroner's Court was unable to host jury inquests whilst sticking to Covid precautions.
No alternative sites were feasible for a jury inquest and he had been unable to list the full inquest until now, when Covid restrictions were eased at the court. The inquest has now been listed to provisionally begin on February 6, 2023, in one of the existing courtrooms at Bolton Coroner's Court - a date which can only be met if no new coronavirus variants are discovered and force measures to come back into effect.
Mr Brennan also told the court that Dr Carter, a Home Office pathologist, had slightly amended her opinion of Mr Lucy's cause of death, now stating that he died as a result of acute exacerbation of asthma in combination with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) syndrome and cardiac enlargement.
Although this is still a natural cause of death, meaning Mr Lucy's inquest does not necessarily have to be held in front of a jury, Mr Brennan has provisionally listed the case be held in the presence of a jury as Mr Lucy's family believe that his death "could and should have been avoided" with proper medical care.
Sodexo, the organisation running HMP Forest Bank, will have 56 days to make written submission if they disagree with a jury being called to hear this inquest. The full hearing will be held with representatives from Sodexo, Greater Manchester Police, Cimarron, the GP service within the prison, and several members of Mr Lucy's family, including his former partner Ms Murphey and Mr Lucy's son and two stepdaughters.
Mr Lucy was among five people who dies at Forest Bank within a 14-month period up to September 2019. Oldham lad Michael McDonagh, 27, was found unresponsive in his cell in February 2019, just a few months after 36-year-old John Winchcole was also found dead in his cell in September 2018. In July 2018, an unnamed 50-year-old suffered a medical episode at the prison, shortly before passing away. A second unnamed man passed away at the prison in September 2019.
Mr Brennan also confirmed that a new courtroom is due to open at Bolton Coroner's Court next year, with the site able to host jury inquests from late February.
