The Bernard Lodge Investigation

INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INVESTIGATION INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF BERNARD (SONNY) LODGE

Bernard Joseph Lodge (who was known as Sonny Lodge) died at Manchester Prison on 28 August 1998

The inquest into his death was held in July 2001.  The verdict was that Mr Lodge killed himself.

Mr Lodge’s family have argued that the inquest was insufficient to meet the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Ministry of Justice has commissioned an independent investigation to examine the circumstances in which Mr Lodge took his own life and to see whether there are lessons to be learned that might contribute to the care of prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm.

The investigation is chaired by Ms Barbara Stow, who was formerly an Assistant Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

The investigation has gathered documentary evidence and witness statements.  Oral evidence will be heard at public hearings at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre, 1 Bridge Street West, Manchester M60 9DJ beginning on 30 September 2008.

The report of the investigation will be published on the website.

Anyone who may have information about the death of Mr Lodge is asked to contact the investigation team in one of the following ways:

By letter or telephone to:

Mr C Topping
Solicitor to the Bernard Lodge Investigation
Jackson and Canter
88 Church Street
Liverpool
L1 3HD

0151 282 1700

By e-mail at:  lodgeinvestigation@jacksoncanter.co.uk

More information on this investigation is available via the following links:

Terms of Reference
List of Issues
Investigation Procedure
The Chair of the Investigation
The Legal Representatives
The Public Hearings
Publications
The system for investigating deaths in prisons
Timetable for proceedings