A MOTHER whose son killed himself while on remand at Hindley Prison has been refused legal aid to sue the prison where he died.

Yvonne Swain of Central Avenue, Bury, launched a legal battle following the death of her son Ian in March last year.

She claims that not enough care was given to her son, who hanged himself just two days before his 19th birthday.

The former Derby High School pupil, who had been charged with an alleged burglary, had been in the prison hospital unit for 10 days when he took his own life.

Ian, a heroin addict, hanged himself with sheets from a window bar 25 minutes after he had been seen by prison staff. An inquest later heard how the teenager killed himself "while the balance of his mind was disturbed".

But despite the setback, Yvonne says she will continue to fight the prison for "answers to her questions" and intends to appeal against the decision not to grant her legal aid.

She claims that more attention should have been paid to her son, who was sent to the hospital wing for his odd behaviour and possible mental illness.

"I feel that Ian wasn't listened to and wasn't looked after properly," she said.

"If he had been treated like an individual, not as one of a group, things might be different. He might be alive today."

Since launching her legal battle, Yvonne has been collating information concerning rules and regulations regarding suicide awareness. She said: "I want to know why the rules weren't adhered to.

"His records show that on a previous occasion he tried to cut his wrists and another time he tried to hang himself.

"If he had tried to kill himself twice before he should have been on special suicide watch."

Yvonne and her family are now waiting for the outcome of the appeal.

"If that is refused we will take advice and see where we can go from here," she said.

"It is still very hard to come to terms with.

"My solicitor did warn me that it could be a long and drawn out process.

"But I don't plan to stop until I've exhausted every avenue.

"They may be in prison, they have done wrong, but they are still human beings and the system has let them down."

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