A grandfather who was jailed for violent disorder and abusing police in the summer riots hung himself in prison, an inquest has heard.
Peter Lynch, 61, died on October 19 at HMP Moorland in South Yorkshire after he was imprisoned for rioting in the wake of the Southport stabbings.
And today, Doncaster’s senior coroner Nicola Mundy opened and adjourned the inquest into Lynch’s death.
Father-of-four Lynch suffered from diabetes, thyroid issues and angina – and endured a heart attack shortly before his death.
But Mundy was told that his preliminary cause of death was hanging.
The inquest heard that “ancillary investigations” are still ongoing into his cause of death – while Mundy noted that she did not yet have a full report from a pathologist.
Lynch had been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court after pleading guilty to civil unrest outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, also in South Yorkshire.
At the time, he was pictured holding a placard which accused Prime Ministers, MPs, judges, the media and police of being corrupt.
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Lynch was pictured holding a placard which accused Prime Ministers, MPs, judges, the media and police of being corrupt
PA
In the aftermath of his death, Lynch’s sister-in-law Jeanette Harris said the family were “absolutely devastated”.
Harris, 73, said: “It’s awful. It’s too upsetting. Peter wasn’t a violent person. There’s no free speech anymore, is there?
“He’s not a criminal. He was a working father and grandfather. A fantastic brother-in-law.
“The last place he should have been in a prison cell. Any other time it would have been just a fine or a suspended sentence… You wouldn’t get three years just for free speech.”
Lynch had been jailed for his role in protests outside a Holiday Inn Express in Manvers
PA
Harris – the sister of Lynch’s 58-year-old wife Andrea, added: “You see the people that have been released from prison early and the crimes they’ve committed… Peter had never been in trouble before.”
Cards and floral tributes had been laid at the couple’s home in Wath-upon-Dearne – where neighbours described Lynch as a “kind man”.
One said: “Peter said some stupid things, yes, but does that really warrant almost three years in jail?”
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
