Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2021

Barry Martin

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2021-0302, written 10 Sep 2021. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report10 Sep 2021
Reference2021-0302
DeceasedBarry Martin
CoronerChristopher Murray
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryCommunity health care · Other related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Jigsaw Homes Tameside, 249 
Cavendish Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 7AT.  

1  CORONER 

I am Christopher Murray, Assistant Coroner, for the Coroner Area of 
Greater Manchester South. 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and 
Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners 
(Investigations) Regulations 2013. 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On 30th December 2020 an investigation was opened into the death of 
Barry Martin. 

On 25th February 2021 an inquest was opened into the death of Barry 
Martin who died at 
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest which I heard on 
15th June 2021. Following a post mortem examination conducted on 30th 
December 2020 the medical cause of death was confirmed as : 

 Hyde SK14 3EG aged 59 years. 

1 (a) Acute left ventricular failure 

(b) Coronary atherosclerosis with superimposed acute pneumonia

By way of conclusion, I recorded a narrative conclusion of Natural 
Causes contributed to by self-neglect. 

1 

 4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Barry Martin had recent history of self-neglect, depression and heavy 
alcohol consumption. After concerns were raised for his welfare, Greater 
Manchester Police attended the properly and forced entry of 

 on 10th December 2020. He confirmed he was dependant but 
had no intent to self-harm. The front door through which the police had 
entered the property was subsequently boarded up. Whilst it is possible 
there were no other exit routes through external doors he could have 
climbed through a window.  
Following further concerns raised by his family, Greater Manchester 
 again on 24th December 2020 and 
Police attended 
found Mr Martin deceased. He died from acute heart failure precipitated 
by an acute pneumonia and bronchitis on a background of moderate 
coronary artery disease and physical frailty. He had neglected himself 
and had not been eating properly. 

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise 
to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur 
unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to 
report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows.  –  

After concerns were raised for his welfare, Mr Martin’s front door to his 
house was boarded up following a forced entry by Greater Manchester 
Police on 10th December 2020. There were no other exit routes from the 
property as there was no key available to Mr Martin to be able to use the 
rear door being the only other door.  

I am concerned that if occupied houses have to be boarded up that 
proper checks are made that there are other alternative safe exit routes 
for residents. 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I 
believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date 
of this report, namely by 5th November 2021. I, the coroner, may extend 
the period.  

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be 
taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain 

2 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 why no action is proposed. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner. I have also sent a 
copy of my report to Greater Manchester Police who may find it useful or 
of interest.  

I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your 
response.  

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted 
or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who 
he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make 
representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about 
the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 

9  Dated: 10th September 2021  

Signature: 
Christopher Murray HM Assistant Coroner, Manchester South. 

3

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Jigsaw Homes Tameside (PDF)
Dear After Inquest Team, 

We have now reviewed your request and provide the following information by way or response. 

Concern Raised: 

The concern raised within the Coroner's Enquiry into the death of Mr. Martin was as follows: 

'After concerns were raised for his welfare, Mr Martin's front door to his house was boarded up 
following a forced entry by Greater Manchester Police on 10th December 2020. There were no 
other exit routes from the property as there was no key available to Mr Martin to be able to use 
the rear door being the only other door. 

I am concerned that if occupied houses have to be boarded up that proper checks are made that 
there are other alternative safe exit routes for residents.' 

Jigsaw Group's Response: 

We can confirm that on 14th  December 2020, a Jigsaw technician attended an emergency call out 
to board up the front door of the property; following forced entry by the Police on welfare 
grounds. 

In such circumstances, our usual process is for technicians to enter the property, call out to see if 
anyone is in the property, and to check for alternative access/exit routes before boarding up the 
door. 

However, when our technician attended on this occasion, he was approached by a neighbour 
who confirmed that the tenant had been taken to hospital so was not in occupation at the time of 
the board up. Our technician noted that the property had rear door access and was therefore 
satisfied that the tenant had alternative access to the property. 

Our supposition, given the tenant was subsequently found to be in the property when the Police 
attended on the second occasion, is that the tenant had been able to use the rear door to access 
the property on his return from hospital. The Group's records confirm that when the tenant had 
signed up for the property he had been issued with four keys for the front door and four keys for 
the rear door and we can find no evidence to suggest that the tenant did not have a key for, or 
access to, the property via the rear door of his property at the time when the front door was 
boarded up. 

We trust this provides sufficient clarification / assurance on the concern raised. 

Kind regards, 

Assistant Director - Corporate Services (Audit)

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