The mother of a 22-year-old man who passed away while in prison expressed her deep sorrow, stating she had a premonition of his death upon his transfer. Jake Anthony O’Brien died at Salford Royal Hospital on November 12, 2024, after being discovered hanging in his cell at HMP Forest Bank, according to an inquest. During the hearing, Sarah O’Brien testified that her son had been let down by all responsible authorities.
Jake, a resident of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, had been remanded to Forest Bank, a Category B men’s private prison in Pendlebury, Salford, following car-related charges. He was admitted to Salford Royal Hospital on November 9 and tragically passed away three days later. The Manchester Evening News detailed the sequence of events.
The inquest revealed that Jake had been moved to Forest Bank from HMP Liverpool three weeks before his death. His demise was deemed non-suspicious, with his injuries consistent with hanging.
Testifying at the inquest, Ms. O’Brien described her son as “extremely precious” and “deeply loved.” She expressed escalating concerns about Jake’s mental well-being during his time at HMP Liverpool, reaching out to prisons, mental health services, her local MP, and other authorities for help.
Jake, who suffered from psychosis, exhibited self-harming tendencies, and had a family history of schizophrenia, was described as having cognitive delays and a youthful demeanor. Ms. O’Brien recounted Jake’s medical history, including his battle with encephalitis as a baby and a serious car accident in 2020 that potentially caused brain damage.
Upon learning of Jake’s transfer to Forest Bank, Ms. O’Brien sensed impending tragedy, feeling unheard and powerless to prevent the fatal outcome.
While incarcerated, Jake, diagnosed with ADHD and a likelihood of autism, experienced psychosis and delusions. Ms. O’Brien attempted to offer comfort through phone calls while reaching out to various authorities for assistance.
She had hoped Jake would be relocated to the Edenfield Centre, a medium-secure mental health unit. The inquest disclosed that a consultant psychiatrist had evaluated Jake before his transfer to Forest Bank to determine his suitability for a mental health facility.
The decision was made to monitor Jake’s progress and reassess his condition over time, as his symptoms appeared to improve at HMP Liverpool. The 14-day inquest into Jake’s death, commencing at Bolton Coroners Court, aims to unravel the circumstances surrounding his passing through testimony from numerous witnesses.
For those in need of support, Samaritans can be contacted for free at 116 123 or visited at www.samaritans.org.