Jury to look into mental health of man jailed after Rotherham disorder who died in prison
Peter Lynch died at HMP Moorland in South Yorkshire two months after he was jailed for two years and eight months
An inquest into the death in prison of a 61-year-old grandfather who was jailed following rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers will look at assessments of his mental health while he was in custody, including whether there were any “missed opportunities” to support him, a coroner has said.
Peter Lynch died at HMP Moorland in South Yorkshire two months after he was jailed for two years and eight months by a judge who heard how he was at the front of a mob which gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, shouting “scum” and “child killers” at police.
When Mr Lynch’s inquest was opened more than a year ago, Doncaster’s senior coroner Nicola Mundy heard that he died on October 19 2024 as a result of hanging.
At a pre-inquest review on Thursday, Ms Mundy outlined the scope of the full inquest hearing, which will be held in front of a jury at Doncaster Coroner’s Court, starting on July 20.
She said the inquest will cover Mr Lynch’s initial arrest and detention by South Yorkshire Police, the days he spent at HMP Doncaster and then his time at HMP Moorland.
The coroner said this would include any assessments made of his mental health at any stage in the 10-week period between the point of his arrest outside the hotel and his death, as well as any support he was given.
In terms of his time at HMP Moorland, Ms Mundy listed a range of areas which will be covered in the inquest, including “matters which may have impacted on his mental health”, “whether there was any evidence of increased vulnerability” and “whether there were any missed opportunities to put further support in place”.
A previous hearing has heard how Mr Lynch was facing an allegation that he broke prison rules at the time of his death.
Ms Mundy said it was not up to the inquest to make any determination about his guilt or otherwise in relation to that matter, but she said she did consider this “a potentially significant event” which will be explored before the jury.
The coroner said it was relevant to look at the impact of Mr Lynch’s conviction and his sentencing on his wellbeing, but stressed: “I will not be criticising in any way judgments of other courts.”
Mr Lynch was arrested on August 4 2024 outside the hotel, where he was pictured holding a placard asserting the corruption of MPs, judges, the media and the police.
When he was sentenced in August 2024, body-worn camera footage was shown to the court of him screaming “you are protecting people who are killing our kids and raping them” and “scum” at police with riot shields.
He was one of more than 100 men who have now been convicted at Sheffield Crown Court following the Rotherham rioting, which left 64 police officers injured, as well as four dogs and a horse.
That court heard how Mr Lynch suffered from diabetes, thyroid issues and angina, and had recently had a heart attack.
It was also told that Mr Lynch, from Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham, had been married for 36 years and had four adult children and three grandchildren.
Some of his family were in court for Thursday’s pre-inquest review and another family member joined by videolink.
The coroner said the inquest will start on July 20 and is currently scheduled to finish on August 4.