THE family of a Lithuanian prisoner who died in hospital after attempting to take his own life in custody were en route to Belfast to be by his bedside when he passed away.
The 24-year-old remand prisoner died in hospital 11 days after he was discovered unconscious by staff in a toilet block of Maghaberry prison.
Staff tried to resuscitate him and he was rushed to hospital on Thursday, February 11. The man's family were contacted in Lithuania and were making their way to Belfast to be with him but he was pronounced dead on Monday, February 22 before they could reach the hospital
The PSNI, Coroner and Prisoner Ombudsman have launched investigations into the death at Maghaberry which has been besieged by problems in recent years.
It comes as the Criminal Justice Inspectorate today (WED) publish the findings of a follow up inspection visit to Maghaberry last month. The follow up came after a damning report last November in which conditions were described by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales Nick Hardwick as "the most dangerous prison" he'd ever visited.
A report jointly compiled by Mr Hardwick and Brendan McGuigan, chief inspector of Criminal Justice NI found the Co Antrim jail to be "unsafe and unstable" for prisoners and staff.
Responding to the prisoner's death, Prison Service Director General Sue McAllister said: “I extend my sympathy and that of the Northern Ireland Prison Service to the family of the prisoner who has sadly died.
"This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time."
