A convicted murderer from Greater Manchester died of Covid just days after testing positive for the virus. The family of Trevor Ferguson questioned whether he didn't report his symptoms because of 'bullying' from other inmates in prison, a new report reveals.
Staff at HMP Garth 'heard' some prisoners hid signs of Covid 'so they would not be responsible for lockdown of the whole unit', said a fatal incident report now published by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), which carries out independent investigations into complaints and deaths in custody. "To avoid detection, they sent other people to collect their meals," the report said. "This is the kind of dynamic that can exist between prisoners and does not strike us as implausible." READ MORE: It went on to say a wing officer recorded at the time Ferguson told her he had delayed reporting symptoms 'due to peer pressure'.
The Category B prison in Lancashire has 'implemented a new policy' as a result, revealed the report, where staff conduct physical welfare checks on prisoners who fail to personally collect food. "We are therefore satisfied that the prison addressed this issue promptly and make no further comment," said the PPO.
Ferguson from Sale, Trafford, was found guilty after trial in 2009 of the murder in north Wales of his ex-partner, Karen McGraw.