A prisoner has died in his cell amid fears a toxic batch of drugs circulating among inmates at a jail in Northern Ireland.
Richard Gilmore (25), was found dead in Magilligan Prison, Co Derry, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
It is understood authorities are investigating a drugs link to the death and have concerns other prisoners could possess similar substances.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland and the coroner have been informed of the death and the Prisoner Ombudsman has been asked to investigate.
The incident comes in the same week staff at Northern Ireland’s other main jail - Maghaberry, Co Antrim — were heavily criticised by the ombudsman over the suicide of a prisoner.
Governors at Maghaberry are facing the prospect of disciplinary action after the ombudsman found that guards slept on makeshift beds, smoked and watched TV, while they should have been monitoring 34-year-old Colin Bell on CCTV.
Mr Bell, who was on suicide watch, hanged himself in his cell in August last year.
PA