Investigation underway after three deaths at HMP Liverpool in two weeks

An investigation is underway after three people died at HMP Liverpool within two weeks. Three people, including a man from Manchester, lost their lives between July 12 and July 21 at the Walton jail.

The ECHO reports that the deaths, believed to be cases of suicide, are now being investigated by the coroner and by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO).

David Jervis, 63, from Warrington; Michael Lunt, 40, from Fazakerley and Nathan Byrnes, 38, from Manchester, all lost their lives at the prison.

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Concerns were raised about the conditions in the prison and a source suggested issues were contributing to poor mental health among prisoners, the ECHO reports. However, the prison service highlighted an inspection report from November last year which praised HMP Liverpool's strategy to reduce self-harm.

Jervis, who was serving a five year sentence for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, died on July 12, while Lunt, who had been charged with attempted robbery, died on July 17. Byrnes, who was in prison for burglary offences, died on July 21.

Last month, the mum of Samuel Hayden, who killed himself in HMP Liverpool in March 2021, called for change after saying the fact her son had not been sent to a prison closer to his native Manchester may have contributed to his mental health collapse.

However the prison has pointed to the results of a recent inspection report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons which praised its "caring culture". The Chief Inspector of prison's wrote: "The prison’s strategy for reducing self-harm evidenced a good approach to care, predicated on good staff-prisoner relationships, which were a real strength at HMP Liverpool."

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