Graham Darby · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 24 June 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Graham Darby, born on 18 July 1956. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 31 October 2013. The conclusion of the inquest was that the medical cause of death was suspension by ligature and that his death was a suicide.

I concluded that Graham Darby had a mental and behavioural disorder due to alcohol dependence and that the day after having been evicted from his home he was found dead at his home address having forcibly re-entered the property.

That there were a number of agencies involved in both trying to assist Mr Darby and to deal with his anti-social behaviour (which led to the eviction). That although information was passed on generally between agencies and that communication was ongoing about Mr Darby, the evidence disclosed that one significant piece of information was not flagged up as it was not made sufficiently clear to Family Mosaic who were responsible for his housing and eviction. This was that the psychiatrist from ARC made a specific observation that Mr Darby had said that he had a knife and a rope in his property and would take his own life if evicted. The witness from Family Mosaic said that this particular piece of information was not passed on and that if it had been different actions may have been taken. Such direct threats should be flagged up in similar circumstances.