Inquest Hears 61-Year-Old Rioter Died by Hanging in Prison Cell

An inquest has been informed that a grandfather, imprisoned for his involvement in rioting outside a hotel accommodating asylum seekers, died by hanging while in custody. Peter Lynch was discovered unresponsive in his cell at HMP Moorland, located in South Yorkshire, on October 19, according to evidence presented at Doncaster Coroner’s Court. The 61-year-old individual was serving a sentence of two years and eight months, having admitted guilt to charges of violent disorder and participation in disturbances at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham on August 4. The inquest was informed that “ancillary investigations” into the cause of his death are currently underway, and Senior Coroner Nicola Mundy stated that she has not yet received a complete report from the pathologist. His family members participated in the inquest proceedings via video link, and his son, Casey, posed several questions concerning the investigation. Among his concerns were “whether my dad should’ve been there in the first place”, and why two prior suicide attempts by his father were not “taken seriously”. The coroner assured him that he and his family would be able to contribute to the investigation and voice their concerns during subsequent hearings. Detective Sergeant Gareth Gent, representing South Yorkshire Police, informed the inquest that Lynch was last observed alive on Friday, October 18, during a roll-call conducted at 19:00 GMT. Staff discovered him unresponsive and not breathing in his cell the following morning. Mr. Gent stated that officers performed CPR until paramedics reached the scene, and Lynch was pronounced deceased at 06:42. He further indicated that preliminary investigations suggested Lynch was alone in his cell at the time of his discovery. Ms. Mundy postponed the inquest to an unspecified future date, noting that the complete inquest would ultimately be conducted before a jury. Lynch, residing on Burman Road in Wath-upon-Dearne, had been married for 36 years and was a father to four adult children and a grandfather to three. He also suffered from diabetes, thyroid problems, angina, and had recently experienced a heart attack. During his trial at Sheffield Crown Court in August, a judge was informed that he had been at the forefront of a crowd demonstrating against immigration, where he had shouted “scum” and “child killers” at police. Photographs also showed him holding a placard that alleged corruption among MPs, judges, the media, and the police. He was among over 70 men who have since been incarcerated at Sheffield Crown Court in connection with the Rotherham rioting, an event that resulted in injuries to 64 police officers, four dogs, and one horse.