The mother of a man who killed himself in a cell at the Alexander Maconochie Centre has talked of her anger and her grief. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading $ 0 / $ NaN /year All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue "Our beautiful baby boy Luke was only 27 years young when this horrific, life-changing incident was allowed to happen," Karen Reid told The Canberra Times .
She was speaking after an inquest into the death of her son Luke Rich at the ACT's prison. The coroner detailed serious flaws in the door of his cell - fatal flaws which the ACT government had been warned about. A separate "critical incident" report after the death on February 1, 2022 found that the ACT government had not made the "urgent" changes "due to budget constraints".
"Luke was placed in a cell, left all alone for hours on end and without an opportunity to call me. He was left to his own thoughts and pain and given the tools needed to do the job of ending his life," his mother said. The Alexander Maconochie Centre where Luke Rich, inset, died.
Pictures by Karleen Minney, supplied "I have wanted to put Luke back in my womb. A place where he was totally protected by me and from the world and all its sin." She thanked coroner Ken Archer and the lawyers from Ken Cush and Associates for the way her son's inquest was conducted.
The coroner said that "at the time of Luke's death, the territory chose to accommodate newly arrived detainees in a physical environment they knew to be, in one important aspect, unsafe. Luke Rich. Pictures supplied by his family.
"The rear doors of the management unit (where Luke Rich was incarcerated) were known to be used as a ligature point for those detainees minded to committing acts of self-harm. "In 2020, they had been identified as needing urgent replacement. They were not replaced," the coroner said.
Apart from the coroner's findings, a separate "critical incident" report by the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services said that the "urgent" changes had not been made "due to budget constraints". The coroner also found that the way prisoners were watched at the prison was "inadequate". "Staff resources were insufficient to address the safety needs of detainees," he said.
Staff relied on CCTV to keep an eye on prisoners "because of a lack of staff resources. "Luke rendered that form of observation ineffective by placing a sticker over the lenses of cameras located in his cell and in the yard. That practice was common amongst experienced detainees," the coroner's findings said.
ACT Corrective Services runs the ACT's prison. It is part of the ACT government's Justice and Community Safety Directorate (JACS). The Corrections Minister is Emma Davidson.
The ACT government said the coroner's findings would be studied. The doors had been changed. " Upgrades to the rear cell doors in the management unit were conducted in May 2022 to reduce the risk of the door bars being used as a ligature point in future," an ACT Corrective Services spokesperson said.
Luke's mother was inconsolable. She said she was "constantly drowning in my heartache". "My heart breaks every time I see a mum with her child and I have left family gatherings and friend's parties because I couldn't stop my sobbing and my heart breaks all over again being reminded of things that will never be.
"Luke will never marry. Luke will never be a father. I will never hold or caress Luke's baby or see the love and joy in his eyes as he holds his first-born child.
I will never be hugged by the best hugger ever. The guilt I feel when I see my brother and my sister with their children and their grandchildren is breathtaking and heartbreaking." A "critical incident" report seven months after the death identified the ways in which the ACT government department had rejected warnings that the design flaw could be fatal.
The doors had been examined after a previous suicide attempt and a memo sent to the ACT government's Justice and Community Safety Directorate detailing the "inherent safety risk". "The replacement of these doors has been deemed as urgent." Mr Rich was arrested the day before his death.
There had been allegations of violence against his partner. In 2020, he had been arrested in relation to similar allegations against the same person, the inquest heard. After the 2022 arrest, he was put in the ACT prison's management unit, which is usually reserved for particularly difficult or dangerous prisoners, but in this case it was used as a cell to isolate prisoners from each other during the pandemic.
His mental state was assessed but he was not judged to be a suicide risk. All the same, he quickly detected the gap in the bar on his cell door and inserted a sheet through it to take his own life. The cost of changing all the doors in the unit was put at $610,000 or $14,500 each for the 42 doors.
Some were fixed - but not the one in Luke Rich's cell. Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 224 636.
Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Steve Evans Reporter Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues.
" Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues.
" More from ACT Politics Mum 'constantly drowning in heartache' since son's prison suicide 25m ago Local buses every 20 minutes in Labor's electric bus buying plan 25m ago No comment s Approval granted for 380 homes in the Canberra Brickworks development No comment s Labor commits to building new police station for Molonglo Valley No comment s Decades-old school playground leaves kids to 'sit on the bench' No comment s Greens want to ban new gas appliances sooner in bid for faster climate action No comment s Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY DURING PARALYMPICS The Paralympic Breakfast Get the best news and analysis from the Paris Paralympic Games in a daily update. Loading..
. DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.
Loading...
DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading..
. WEEKLY Note from the Editor Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Loading.
.. WEEKLY FootyHQ Love footy? We've got all the action covered.
Loading...
DAILY Early Look At David Pope Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon. Loading..
. AS IT HAPPENS Public Service News Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service. Loading.
.. WEEKLY Explore Travel Every Sunday explore destinations, deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around Australia and the globe.
Loading...
WEEKLY Property Get the latest property and development news here. Loading..
. WEEKLY What's On Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Loading.
.. WEEKLY Weekend Reads We've selected the best reading for your weekend.
Loading...
WEEKLY Times Reader's Panel Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers. Loading..
. WEEKDAYS The Echidna Sharp. Close to the ground.
Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Loading.
.. TWICE WEEKLY The Informer Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday.
Loading...
WEEKLY Motoring Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Loading..
. TWICE WEEKLY Voice of Real Australia Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Loading.
.. AS IT HAPPENS Breaking news alert Be the first to know when news breaks.
Loading...
DAILY Today's Paper Alert Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Loading..
. DAILY Your favourite puzzles Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Loading.
...
