Mother's Tragic Warning: She 'Knew' Son Would Die in Forest Bank Prison

Mother's Heartbreaking Testimony at Inquest into Son's Prison Death

A heartbroken mother has delivered a devastating testimony at the inquest into her son's death, stating she "knew he was going to die" when he was transferred to Forest Bank prison in Salford. Sarah O'Brien told Bolton Coroners Court on Monday that her "extremely precious" and "very, very deeply loved" son, Jake Anthony O'Brien, aged 22 from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, would not survive his time at the notorious facility.

Tragic Sequence of Events Leading to Death

Jake O'Brien was rushed to Salford Royal Hospital on November 9, 2024, after being discovered hanging in his cell at the Category B men's private prison in Pendlebury. Despite medical intervention, he tragically passed away just three days later on November 12. The young man had been on remand at Forest Bank following charges related to car crime offences, having been moved from HMP Liverpool only three weeks prior to his death.

The inquest heard there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his passing, with injuries consistent with death by hanging. However, his mother's testimony painted a harrowing picture of systemic failures and ignored warnings regarding her son's vulnerable mental state.

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History of Mental Health Struggles and Repeated Warnings

Ms. O'Brien described how she had become increasingly concerned about Jake's deteriorating mental health while he was incarcerated at HMP Liverpool. She detailed extensive efforts to alert authorities to his precarious condition, contacting:

• Both prison facilities multiple times
• Mental health services repeatedly
• Her local Member of Parliament
• Various other authorities and professionals

"Nobody listened and he ended up dead," she told the hearing, expressing profound frustration at the lack of response to her urgent concerns.

Complex Medical History and Vulnerability

The inquest revealed Jake's significant vulnerabilities that made him particularly unsuited for the prison environment:

1. He had been diagnosed with ADHD
2. There was a "strong probability" he had autism
3. He was experiencing psychosis with delusions
4. He had a history of self-harm behavior
5. Family history included schizophrenia
6. He had contracted encephalitis as a baby, with doctors warning about potential severe brain damage
7. He had been in a serious car accident in 2020 that may have caused additional brain injury

Medical professionals noted Jake "acted younger than his age" and was "cognitively slower," making him especially vulnerable in the prison setting. His mother described how she would speak to him on the phone, trying to reassure him while simultaneously emailing councillors, hospitals, and various professionals in desperate attempts to secure proper mental health care.

Missed Opportunities for Intervention

The hearing learned that Jake had undergone an assessment by a consultant psychiatrist shortly before his transfer to Forest Bank to determine if he should be moved to a mental health facility instead. While his psychosis symptoms appeared to be improving at the time, and he seemed to benefit from the structured environment at HMP Liverpool, it was decided to re-assess and monitor his behavior over subsequent weeks rather than transfer him immediately to specialized care.

Ms. O'Brien had hoped her son would be transferred to Edenfield, a medium secure service providing care and treatment for people with enduring mental health needs. Instead, when she learned of his transfer to Forest Bank, she experienced what she described as "the start of the end of his life."

Extensive Inquest Proceedings Underway

The inquest into Jake O'Brien's death, which opened on Monday at Bolton Coroners Court, is scheduled to run for fourteen working days. The jury has been informed they will hear testimony from approximately fifty witnesses throughout the proceedings. The coroner explained that jurors must piece together what was described as a "jigsaw puzzle" of evidence surrounding the tragic circumstances of the young man's death.

This case highlights critical questions about mental health care within the prison system and the adequacy of safeguards for vulnerable inmates with complex psychological needs. The extensive witness list suggests a thorough examination of the events leading to Jake O'Brien's death and the systems that failed to prevent it.