A formal investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has highlighted procedural and administrative failings at HMP Isle of Wight following the death of convicted child abuser Alec Henney, aged 65.
Henney, originally of Kenagh, County Longford, Ireland, was jailed for seven years in March 2022 after being extradited to the United Kingdom to stand trial for historical child protection offences. A crown court convicted him of three counts of indecent assault relating to multiple incidents committed against two young female children in Luton during the 1990s. Henney was subsequently transferred to HMP Isle of Wight in October 2022 to serve his custodial sentence.
The ombudsman’s report detailed that Henney was admitted to the prison healthcare wing after reporting severe chest pain and breathing difficulties. Although a prison GP requested blood tests and an urgent chest X-ray, administrative staff failed to book the radiology appointment, resulting in a nearly seven-week delay before the scan was completed on 18 January. Henney was subsequently diagnosed with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.
The PPO investigation determined that Henney’s medical care was only “partially equivalent” to the standard available in the community, noting that the delays in diagnostic imaging hindered the timeliness of his assessment and treatment pathway, though it was considered unlikely to have altered the ultimate clinical outcome.
Investigators also raised concerns regarding the application of physical restraints on Henney during his hospital admissions in March, shortly before his death. Prison authorities were unable to produce mandatory risk assessment paperwork or documentation explaining the decision to apply an escort chain to a severely ill and frail prisoner.
A post-mortem examination determined that Henney died from pneumonia caused by metastatic lung cancer alongside chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A Section 9C written inquest confirmed that Henney died of natural causes. The Ombudsman concluded the investigation by issuing a formal recommendation instructing the governor of HMP Isle of Wight to ensure strict compliance with restraint documentation procedures.
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