Author: 4WardEverUK

4WardEverUK

6th anniversary of Gilly Mundy’s death

Gilly Mundyfrom various sources: 4WardEver UK
17th March 2013

17 March 2013 marked six years since the death of one of the stalwarts of the campaign movement against deaths in police custody and abuse by police and prison officers in the United Kingdom.

Gilly saved three lives and restored the sight of two others when he donated his organs after his death in March 2007. Read more of this article here >

Gilly, who died suddenly aged 36, managed to cram so much into his own life and touch the lives of many in a positive, life-affirming way. For the last nine years of his life he had been senior caseworker for INQUEST, the charity that advises relatives of those who have died in custody.

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4WardEverUK

Custody deaths in England & Wales 2012

Deaths in police custody 2002-2012all credits: INQUEST 
published: March 2013

As of 31 December 2012 there were 186 deaths is prison, of which 60 were self-inflicted.

The year was defined by three spikes in self-inflicted deaths: January saw the highest number, followed by July. And despite a decline through the Autumn, the number of self-inflicted deaths rose sharply in December. This is a common pattern as the festive period can be a challenging and difficult time for vulnerable people. January was notable too for the self-inflicted deaths of two children in prison custody – Jake Hardy, 17, and 15 year old Alex Kelly.

There were a total of 23 deaths in police custody or as the result of a road incident or shooting. Nine were custody deaths, one was a police shooting and 13 were caused by police pursuit or a road traffic incident.

Source: INQUEST casework and monitoring.

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4WardEverUK

Relief after truth about custody death emerges

Lenny McCourtby: The Northern Echo  
published: 31st October 2012

The family of a grandfather who died in police custody today spoke of their relief at the truth finally emerging at an inquest into his death – that he had died while being transported in a police van.

Relatives spoke after members of a jury said they believed Lenny McCourt, who had been pepper sprayed during his arrest, died in transit on the short journey between his home in Ash Crescent, in Seaham and Peterlee Police Station, County Durham.

Mr McCourt’s sister-in-law Tracey McCourt, speaking on behalf of the family following the 11-day hearing in Crook, said: “They are the best words that could have been said. Because it is what we have always believed – that Lenny died in the police van.

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