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Mum's Dread: "Knew He Was Going to Die" in Prison
21 Apr
Summary
- A mother foresaw her son's death upon his prison transfer.
- Inquest heard the 22-year-old died after being found hanging.
- Authorities failed to act on repeated concerns for his mental health.
A mother's desperate pleas were ignored, leading to the tragic death of her 22-year-old son, Jake O'Brien, who died in prison. Jake was found hanging in his cell at HMP Forest Bank on November 12, 2024, and later passed away at Salford Royal Hospital. His mother, Sarah O'Brien, stated she "knew he was going to die" as soon as he was transferred to the facility.
Jake, from Altrincham, had been remanded to HMP Forest Bank on car-related charges. The inquest heard he had been transferred from HMP Liverpool three weeks prior. Ms. O'Brien emphasized that her son, who experienced psychosis, had a history of self-harm, and a family history of schizophrenia, was failed by every authority meant to protect him. Despite her persistent concerns about his mental health, no adequate action was taken.
The inquest, which opened on Monday at Bolton Coroners Court, is expected to hear from 50 witnesses. Jurors are piecing together the circumstances surrounding Jake's death, which his mother believes could have been prevented if authorities had listened to her warnings. She had hoped he would be moved to a mental health unit, but a decision was made to monitor his behavior instead.
