Prisoner Ombudsman publishes report into a Post Release Death
Published on June 30 2025
The Office of the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is responsible for providing an independent and impartial investigation into deaths in prison custody in Northern Ireland, this includes the deaths of people shortly after their release from prison.
The Prisoner Ombudsman has today published a report relating to the death of Mr Patrick McIlroy who had been in custody in Maghaberry Prison for 102 days. Mr McIlroy was released on 6 June 2022 and was found unresponsive in Belfast City Centre on 9 June 2022. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful and life was pronounced extinct at 21:35. Mr McIlroy was 27 years old. The cause of death recorded on the postmortem was Heroin Toxicity combined with Ketamine and Bromazolam.
In his report the Prisoner Ombudsman found there were no matters relating to Mr McIlroy’s management and care provided by NI Prison Service or the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust that require further investigation.
Mr McIlroy’s case does however highlight a number of broader issues, which impact on the ability of NIPS and its partner agencies to support an individual’s rehabilitation particularly relating to short term sentenced prisoners. The Ombudsman will continue to work with all statutory and voluntary agencies to improve conditions within the custodial environment.
Speaking on the publication of the report into Mr McIlroy’s death, the Prisoner Ombudsman, Darrin Jones, said:
“The publication of this report will be difficult for Mr McIlroy’s family and I offer my condolences for their loss. While this report does not find any direct matters for the NI Prison Service or the Trust, there will be elements of learning around the rehabilitation support available to prisoners in the future.”