The grieving mother of a 22-year-old man who passed away while in prison has expressed her premonition of his demise following 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, an inquest revealed. During the inquest on Monday, Sarah O’Brien testified that all the authorities responsible for her son’s well-being had failed him.
Jake, a resident of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, had been remanded to Forest Bank, a Category B private men’s prison in Pendlebury, Salford, after being charged with car-related offenses. He was admitted to Salford Royal Hospital on November 9 and tragically passed away three days later, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
According to the inquest, Jake had been moved from HMP Liverpool to Forest Bank three weeks before his death. The circumstances surrounding his passing were deemed non-suspicious, with his injuries consistent with death by hanging.
Sarah O’Brien described her eldest son as “extremely precious” and “deeply loved,” expressing escalating concerns about Jake’s mental health during his time at HMP Liverpool. She made numerous attempts to alert both prisons, mental health services, her local MP, and other authorities about his condition.
Jake, who suffered from psychosis, a history of self-harm, and had taken ketamine during the onset of his psychosis, was known to exhibit behavior younger than his age and cognitive impairments. He had also faced health challenges from childhood, including encephalitis and a serious car accident in 2020 that may have caused brain damage.
The inquest revealed that despite Jake’s ADHD and a likelihood of autism, he experienced psychosis and delusions while incarcerated. Sarah O’Brien detailed her efforts to seek assistance by contacting various professionals and authorities while hoping for Jake’s transfer to a mental health unit.
Although a consultant psychiatrist had assessed Jake before his transfer to Forest Bank to evaluate the need for mental health care, it was decided to monitor his progress and reassess him later. At the time of assessment, improvements were noted in Jake’s psychotic symptoms, seemingly benefiting from the structured environment at HMP Liverpool.
The ongoing inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court, which commenced on Monday, is anticipated to span 14 working days. Jurors were informed that they would hear from 50 witnesses to piece together the details surrounding Jake’s untimely death.
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