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Family Secures Justice After Father's 'Degrading' Prison Death
25 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Prisoner died from Covid-19 after being left in soiled conditions.
- Staff wrongly assumed the ill inmate was staging a 'dirty protest'.
- Settlement reached with Ministry of Justice over his alleged undignified death.
The daughter of a former firefighter and Royal Navy officer has settled a High Court legal claim for a five-figure sum following her father's death in prison. Alpha Kalay, 74, died in HMP Hull in January 2021 after contracting Covid-19. His daughter, Melanie Kalay, alleged her father suffered an "inhumane, degrading and undignified death."
Prison staff were reportedly aware Mr. Kalay, who had pre-existing health conditions, was at higher risk from the virus due to his ethnicity. When his cell was found soiled, staff initiated disciplinary proceedings for a suspected "dirty protest," leading to missed care opportunities. He was eventually hospitalized with severe respiratory and kidney issues, dying five days later.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service expressed sorrow for the inadequate support Mr. Kalay received and acknowledged the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. The healthcare provider also stated their condolences and confirmed thorough reviews are conducted for serious incidents.
