Martin Cumiskey

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Independent investigation into
the death of
Mr Martin Cumiskey,
a prisoner at HMP Doncaster,
on 1 August 2024
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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© 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. On 28 June 2016, Mr Martin Cumiskey was sentenced to nine years in prison for
sexual offences. On 2 June 2017, Mr Cumiskey was transferred to HMP Doncaster.
4. Mr Cumiskey died at HMP Doncaster on 1 August 2024. His cause of death
was bronchopneumonia (a severe lung infection). Contributing factors were chronic
emphysema (long-term lung disease) and laryngeal cancer (cancer of the voice
box). He was 61 years old. We offer our condolences to Mr Cumiskey’s family and
friends.
5. The Ombudsman’s office contacted to Mr Cumiskey’s family to explain the
investigation and to ask if they had any matters she wanted us to consider. They
had no questions.
6. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review the clinical
care Mr Cumiskey received at Doncaster.
7. The clinical reviewer concluded that the clinical care Mr Cumiskey received at
Doncaster was of a good standard and was equivalent to that which he could
expect to receive in the community. She found that that there was well-co-ordinated
care with regular multi-disciplinary and social care meetings, good joined up multi-
disciplinary team approach to palliative care, and that this was delivered in
accordance with the Dying Well in Custody Charter and Gold Standards
Framework.
8. The PPO investigator investigated the non-clinical issues relating to Mr Cumiskey’s
care.
9. We found one non-clinical issue of concern. On 3 February 2023, prison staff
recorded that an application for Early Release on Compassionate Grounds had
been started due to Mr Cumiskey’s terminal illness. However, no significant
progress was made with the application before Mr Cumiskey died.
10. In October, healthcare staff also requested that the process for Early Release on
Compassionate Grounds should start. However, no progress was made and no one
caring for Mr Cumiskey followed up on the request.
11. Since Mr Cumiskey died, the Head of Offender Management Services has made
some changes to the process, including assigning a named member of staff to the
case with a timeline of actions to follow. They have also established a multi-
disciplinary meeting once an application is started, to identify actions and ensure it
is clear who will take forward which action. As a result of these changes, we make
no recommendation.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 1
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12. We shared the report with HM Prison and Probation Service. They did not identify
any factual inaccuracies.
13. The inquest into Mr Cumiskey’s death concluded on 26 March 2025 and returned a
verdict of natural causes.
Adrian Usher August 2025
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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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
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