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A prisoner serving a sentence for burglary died in a horrific fire in his jail cell.

Kevin Delahunty, who was serving a five-year sentence, was rushed to hospital after a fire broke out in his cell at HMP Risley, Warrington.

The 40-year-old was taken to the specialist burns unit at Whiston Hospital, in Rainhill, for treatment after the incident on Sunday, March 25, the Liverpool Echo reports .

He died on Thursday, March 29. Police are not treating the blaze as malicious.

Confirming the death, a Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Risley prisoner Kevin Delahunty (DOB: 14/03/1978) died on Thursday 29 March 2018.

“As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

“Our sincere condolences are with Mr Delahunty’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

A court report from April 2016 revealed how the drug addict stole family heirlooms from a Bradford school teacher - which his defence solicitor said was due to his battle with addiction and his mental health problems.

He pleaded guilty to a burglary on March 10, 2016 - admitting he took two jewellery boxes, power tools, and ‘high value electrical items’.

Among the stolen goods was a gold ring given to the victim by her mother for her 21st birthday, and a silver brooch bought by her grandparents when she was a child.

Delahunty also made off with two television sets, a gold bangle, necklaces and earrings.

The solicitor advocate for Delahunty, Kam Dhesi, said his long standing addiction to Class A drugs was behind his offending.

The prison service will now be independently investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

Got a story or an issue you want us to investigate? Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Let us know - in complete confidence - by emailing newsdesk@men-news.co.uk, calling us on 0161 211 2323, tweeting us @MENnewsdesk or messaging us on our Facebook page . You can also send us a story tip using the form here .</s>As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

The police are investigating this matter, so it would be inappropriate to comment further.</s>These are external links and will open in a new window

An inmate has been killed in a fire at a prison, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

The prison service said Kevin Delahunty, 40, died in a blaze at category C HMP Risley, in Warrington, Cheshire on Thursday.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman confirmed it had opened an investigation into the incident.

According to the Telegraph & Argus, Delahunty is from Bradford, West Yorkshire, and died in a cell fire.

"As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

"Our sincere condolences are with Mr Delahunty's family and friends at this difficult time."

An inspection report in 2016 identified a number of failures at HMP Risley which holds more than 1,100 prisoners.

A fifth of prisoners felt unsafe, it said, and "it was not a sufficiently respectful prison".</s>This is the prisoner who died after a cell fire at HMP Risley.

Kevin Delahunty, who was serving a five year sentence for burglary, was rushed to hospital after a fire broke out in his cell at the Category C jail in Warrington on Sunday, March 25.

The 40-year-old was initially taken to Whiston Hospital - which has a specialist burns unit - for treatment but died on Thursday, March 29. Police are not treating the blaze as malicious.

Today, the ECHO can reveal his picture after one of Delahunty’s friends asked us to report on his death.

Confirming the death, a Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Risley prisoner Kevin Delahunty (DOB: 14/03/1978) died on Thursday 29 March 2018.

“As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

“Our sincere condolences are with Mr Delahunty’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

A court report from April 2016 revealed how the drug addict stole family heirlooms from a Bradford school teacher - which his defence solicitor said was due to his battle with addiction and his mental health problems.

He pleaded guilty to a burglary on March 10, 2016 - admitting he took two jewellery boxes, power tools, and ‘high value electrical items’.

Among the stolen goods was a gold ring given to the victim by her mother for her 21st birthday, and a silver brooch bought by her grandparents when she was a child.

Delahunty also made off with two television sets, a gold bangle, necklaces and earrings.

The solicitor advocate for Delahunty, Kam Dhesi, said his long standing addiction to Class A drugs was behind his offending.

The prison service will now be independently investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman launches an investigation after a burglar dies from burns suffered in a fire in his cell at HMP Risley in England.