Robert Barry

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Independent investigation into
the death of Mr Robert Barry,
on 30 January 2025,
following his release from
HMP Durham
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, 2026
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Summary
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. Since 6 September 2021, the PPO has investigated post-release deaths that occur
within 14 days of the person’s release from prison.
3. 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.
4. Mr Robert Barry died of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage on 30 January
2025, following his release from HMP Durham on 27 January 2025. This was
caused by a duodenal ulcer (an ulcer in the lining of the small intestine). Mr Barry
was 45 years old. We offer our condolences to those who knew him.
5. The clinical reviewer concluded that the care Mr Barry received at Durham was of a
good standard and equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in
the community. We make no recommendations.
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The Investigation Process
6. HMPPS notified us of Mr Barry’s death on 28 March 2025.
7. The PPO investigator obtained copies of relevant extracts from Mr Barry’s prison
and probation records.
8. NHS England commissioned an independent clinical reviewer to review Mr Barry’s
clinical care at HMP Durham.
9. We informed HM Coroner for Newcastle and North Tyneside of the investigation.
They send us a copy of the death certificated and informed us that an inquest will
not be held. We have sent the Coroner a copy of this report.
10. The initial report was shared with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
HMPPS did not find any factual inaccuracies.
2 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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Background Information
HMP Durham
11. HMP Durham is a category B reception and resettlement prison which holds male
prisoners. Spectrum provide physical healthcare and clinical substance misuse
services. Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust provide mental health
services.
Probation Service
12. The Probation Service works with all individuals subject to custodial and community
sentences. During a person’s imprisonment, they oversee their sentence plan to
assist in rehabilitation, prepare reports to advise the Parole Board and have links
with local partnerships to which they refer people for resettlement services, where
appropriate. Post-release, the Probation Service supervises people throughout their
licence period and post-sentence supervision.
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Key Events
Background
13. On 14 December 2024, Mr Robert Barry was sent to HMP Durham on remand.
14. During his initial health screen, Mr Barry told staff that he did not drink alcohol and
did not disclose any health issues.
15. On 20 December, Mr Barry was convicted of assault and theft and sentenced to
eight weeks in custody.
16. On 24 December, the pre-release team at Durham saw Mr Barry to identify his
needs and completed a duty to refer form (a homelessness referral form to the local
authority) to Newcastle council because he said he would have nowhere to live on
release.
Pre-release
17. On 15 January, a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting was held between
healthcare staff, Mr Barry’s community offender manager (COM), and Mr Barry.
Probation records note that a Community Accommodation Service tier 3 application
(CAS3 – an accommodation service that provides prison leavers with up to 84
nights in accommodation) would be made.
18. On 19 January, Mr Barry’s prison offender manager (POM) met with him on the
wing. Mr Barry told his POM that he would be homeless on release. The POM
contacted his COM as well as the pre-release team.
19. On 22 January, Mr Barry attended an appointment by video-link with the COM and
Mr Barry’s Integrated Offender Management police officer (IOM, a cross-agency
strategy that unites probation and police in managing repeat offenders). That day,
the COM completed the CAS3 application.
20. On 23 January, the pre-release team made a referral to the Reconnect service (a
community service which provides various support services to prison leavers).
21. On 24 January, Mr Barry was accepted for a CAS3 accommodation.
22. On 27 January, Durham’s drugs and alcohol recovery team referred Mr Barry to
Newcastle Treatment and Recovery (an NHS service that provides various
substance misuse services) for community treatment.
23. In a pre-release medical check, Mr Barry said that he felt fit and well. At no point
during his imprisonment had Mr Barry sought any help for symptoms that might
have been related to an ulcer.
Release from HMP Durham
24. On 27 January, Mr Barry was released from Durham.
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25. Mr Barry attended an initial probation appointment with another probation officer
who completed his appointment as the COM did not work on that day. They
discussed his CAS3 accommodation.
Circumstances of Mr Barry’s death
26. On 30 January, the COM spoke to staff at Newcastle Treatment and Recovery to
see if Mr Barry had been attending his appointments. They told her that Mr Barry
was in hospital with an internal bleed, after he became unwell at home.
27. At approximately 4.00pm the same day, the COM was informed that Mr Barry had
died.
Cause of death
28. A post-mortem examination was not carried out as the Coroner accepted the cause
of death provided by a doctor. The doctor gave the cause of death as acute upper
gastrointestinal haemorrhage, caused by duodenal ulcer. The Coroner told the
investigator that they would not be conducting an inquest into Mr Barry’s death.
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Findings
Clinical care
29. The clinical reviewer concluded that the care Mr Barry received at Durham was of a
good standard and was at least equivalent to that which he could have expected to
receive in the community. He found that there was nothing the healthcare team
could have done to predict or prevent Mr Barry’s death. He also found that the
healthcare team appropriately referred Mr Barry to community teams for ongoing
support in the community. He made no recommendations.
Adrian Usher
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman December 2025
6 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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