Two inmates at HMP Parc prison died within minutes of each other in unconnected incidents, elevating the death count to nine within just two months. A teenager named Michael Horton and a convicted murderer, David Maggs, were the latest deaths at the troubled UK prison on Tuesday, May 7.
In a statement, the representative from HMP Parc, managed by G4S, commented: “Mr David Maggs, aged 73, passed away on Tuesday, May 7. His next of kin has been informed and our thoughts are with his family and friends.
“Mr Michael Horton, aged 19, passed away on Tuesday, May 7. His next of kin has been informed and our thoughts are with his loved ones.”
The spokesperson assured that “their deaths were unrelated”, adding: “Family liaison officers are supporting the families. As with all deaths in custody these will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”
A South Wales Police spokesman added: “South Wales Police was called between 12.20am and 12.55am on Tuesday, May 7, with reports of two sudden deaths at HMP Parc of a 73-year-old man and a 19-year-old man. Investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the deaths however at this time they are not believed to be suspicious. It will be for HM Coroner to give a determination on the cause of death.”
A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: “We were called to two separate incidents at HMP Parc, Bridgend. “The first call was received at 11.17pm on May 6. We sent one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit and one emergency ambulance to the scene.
“The second call was received at 12.37am on May 7. We sent an additional Cymru High Acuity Response Unit and emergency ambulance to the scene.”
These incidents happened shortly after the death of 47-year-old Wayne Hay at HMP Parc, following a spate of six inmate deaths in just over three weeks earlier this year, Wales Online reports.
South Wales Police have stated that while two of the six deaths at Parc between February 27 and March 19 are considered non-suspicious, they suspect the remaining four are drug-related. Detective Steve Jones revealed in March that investigations had swiftly uncovered the involvement of nitazene-based substances in all four cases, with the notorious psychoactive drug spice linked to two of the fatalities.
