Barton Jail inquest

One of the inmates who overdosed and died in the Barton street jail was hoarding his medication, that’s what an inquest heard today. The jail had been in lock-down with all inmates confined to their cells for the 4 days prior to the death of Stephen Neeson.

Neeson was a convicted bank robber who spent time in the Kingston penitentiary. He was awaiting trial for bank robbery at the Barton street jail when he was found dead his cell in February 2015. Correctional officers described the 44-year old as “one of the better inmates”, “a good guy” who “didn’t cause trouble.”

The inquest heard the day Neeson died wasn’t a normal day. On February 10th the jail was locked down after a pair of nail clippers went missing. For 4 days inmates were confined to their cells while searches were conducted. They were sleeping, eating, using the washrooms in the cells. Sometimes 3 inmates locked up together. Correctional officers describing them as “antsy” “angry” and “frustrated”.

Inmates that required medication were passed their pills through the meal hatch of their cell with a correctional officer and nurse watching through the window to make sure they were taken properly.

On February 14th, video surveillance showed items being “fished” or passed between cells and medications were seen being delivered to Neeson’s cell through the hatch 3 times by a nurse. When the lock-down was lifted on February 15th, Neeson was found dead. Four pills were found in his cell. Later identified as medication that was prescribed to him.