Prison staff rapped over suicide of man who murdered wife
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS FAILINGS AFTER BRUTAL KILLER FOUND DEAD IN HIS CELL
TWO prison staff have been disciplined over actions in the lead-up to the death of a murderer who committed suicide in jail, a report has revealed.
Paul Jordan was found hanged at HMP Altcourse, Fazakerley, on July 6, 2018 – just weeks after being sentenced to 14 years for the murder of his wife, Elizabeth Jordan, known as Betty, in Bangor on July 31, 2017.
An inquest into his death heard planned checks by prison staff, at 5.30am and 7.30am on the day of his death, had not taken place and that counselling sessions had ended.
However, a jury at the inquest concluded it was unlikely any other intervention would have made a difference and they found nothing could have been done to prevent him from taking his own life in his prison cell.
The jury’s conclusion stated: “It is extremely likely that [Jordan hanging himself ] was done deliberately, with intent to take his own life.
“There is insufficient evidence as to determine whether the missed 5-5.30am check would have found Mr Jordan in a position where urgent medical attention would have changed the outcome.
“With reference to the missed 7.30am check, it is unlikely to have contributed to Mr Jordan’s death.”
But a subsequent report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Sue Mcallister, has highlighted concerns and said checks on Jordan prior to his death, were not carried out to “a satisfactory standard”.
She said: “When he was discovered on the morning of July 6, he had clearly been dead for some time and there is no evidence that any member of staff had seen him for more than 13 hours.”
The Ombudsman concluded it was reasonable for prison staff to have closed Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork, procedures – otherwise know as “suicide watch” – on June 12, three weeks after Mr Jordan was sentenced.
“We are satisfied that there was little to indicate to prison and healthcare staff that he was at heightened or imminent risk in the period immediately before his death.
“There is evidence that Mr Jordan hid his true intentions from staff,” Ms Mcallister said.
“However, we are concerned that the roll checks on the night and morning before Mr Jordan was found dead were not completed to a satisfactory standard.
“CCTV footage shows that the night officer did not carry out mandatory roll checks and that the officer who unlocked his cell in the morning did not verify whether Mr Jordan was in the cell or in need of help.
“We understand that, following internal disciplinary proceedings, both members of staff have received final written warnings.”
T h e Ombudsman directed: “The director should ensure that all prison staff are aware of the correct procedures at roll and wellbeing checks and that, when a cell door is unlocked, staff satisfy themselves of the wellbeing of the prisoner and that there are no issues that need immediate attention.”
The inquest heard Jordan would regularly talk about his daughter, son and wife and “how bad he feels and what it’s done to the family”. He was described as growing increasingly depressed and appearing unkempt in the weeks before he killed himself.
During his trial in May 2018, Caernarfon Crown Court heard Jordan had been “fixated” on the idea his wife was seeing another man, even though there was no evidence it was true.
Jordan and Betty were separated, although they remained on good terms and even spent a day out at Chester Races together two days before the murder.
On that trip they encountered a man Jordan believed was in a relationship with his wife, which a judge described as likely to have been the “trigger” for his act.
On July 31, Jordan travelled from his rented flat to Betty’s home in Bangor where he selected a kitchen knife and walked upstairs. The court heard he even greeted his daughter’s boyfriend before walking into Betty’s bedroom, where she was lying in bed, and stabbing her once in the chest.
H e accepted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but pleaded not guilty to murder. However he was found guilty of murder after a trial. Speaking at his sentencing hearing, Jordan and Betty’s children, Paul and Clare, described their mum as an “amazing parent whose smile could fill a room in an instant”.