A man tragically took his own life just 11 days after leaving prison. Robert Connolly, 46, was found dead at home, raising concerns about post-release support and mental health.
Staffordshire: A man named Robert Connolly took his own life just 11 days after getting out of prison. He was found dead at his home on April 29 last year. It’s a heartbreaking situation.
Robert had just been released from HMP Featherstone. He had a tough history with substance misuse but completed a detox program while in prison. He even got support from a community team called Turning Point.
Before his release, he was in custody for burglary. He was sentenced to two years and moved around different prisons. The report says he struggled with anxiety and depression but didn’t want extra help from the mental health team.
Interestingly, prison staff didn’t see any signs that he might harm himself. They didn’t monitor him for suicide risks, which is concerning. The report found no issues with how his release was planned.
After getting out, Robert attended appointments with Turning Point. He collected methadone and had meetings with his community offender manager. He seemed to be doing okay, with no suicidal thoughts reported.
Sadly, a support worker found him in his flat, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner ruled it a suicide. The ombudsman felt that the prison and probation services did their best to help him.
It’s tragic that Robert didn’t have a history of suicide attempts. He declined mental health support, which might have made a difference. It’s a tough reminder of the importance of mental health care, especially after prison.
