John Farrell

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr John Farrell,
a prisoner at HMP Wormwood
Scrubs, on 5 May 2025
A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
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OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
© Crown copyright, 2025
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1. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman aims to make a significant contribution to
safer, fairer custody and community supervision. One of the most important ways in
which we work towards that aim is by carrying out independent investigations into
deaths, due to any cause, of prisoners, young people in detention, residents of
approved premises and detainees in immigration centres.
2. If my office is to best assist His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) in
ensuring the standard of care received by those within service remit is appropriate,
our recommendations should be focused, evidenced and viable. This is especially
the case if there is evidence of systemic failure.
3. In December 2021, Mr John Farrell was sentenced to 13 years in prison for sex
offences. He died in hospital from bronchopneumonia and an acute cerebrovascular
event on 5 May 2025, while a prisoner at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. He was 76
years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Farrell’s family and friends.
4. The Ombudsman’s office wrote to Mr Farrell’s next of kin to explain the investigation
and to ask if they had any matters they wanted us to consider. They had no
questions and did not want a copy of our report.
5. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer, to review Mr Farrell’s
clinical care at Wormwood Scrubs.
6. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Farrell received at
Wormwood Scrubs was of a good quality and was equivalent to that which he could
have expected to receive in the community. He found that there was good evidence
of advanced care planning and that Mr Farrell’s wishes were evident in this.
However, he found that there was no single place where all this information was
readily available. The clinical reviewer made recommendations which were not
related to Mr Farrell’s death but which the Head of Healthcare will want to address.
7. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Farrell’s
care.
8. We did not identify any non-clinical learning and we make no recommendations.
Good practice
9. Mr Farrell’s family liaison officer attended the Coroner’s office on their non-working
day to register Mr Farrell’s death as his next of kin was unable to make the journey.
10. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
11. North London Coroner’s Service told us that an inquest was not required for this
case.
Adrian Usher August 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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Third Floor, 10 South Colonnade Email: mail@ppo.gov.uk T l 020 7633 4100
Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU Web: www.ppo.gov.uk
OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE