A father of four who killed himself in prison after being jailed for rioting felt ‘a strong sense of injustice’ over his sentence and was ‘tearful’ just a month before his death, a report said.
Peter Lynch’s body was found hanged in HMP Moorland, South Yorkshire, on October 19, 2024, just two months into the 61-year-old’s two-year and eight-month sentence.
He had been convicted of violent disorder during the anti-immigration riots at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham, in August 2024.
During Mr Lynch’s trial, bodycam footage was shown to jurors of him shouting ‘you are protecting people who are killing our kids and raping them’ and ‘scum’ at police with riot shields.
He was filmed repeatedly challenging officers as they tried to push him back with shields, screaming ‘protect my children’ and yelling: ‘We are on the streets now to protect our kids.’
A report by the Prisons Ombudsman read: ‘This was Mr Lynch’s first time in prison and he was clearly upset and frustrated about his sentence.
‘Mr Lynch felt well supported by his family and he was able to spend time with his son, who was also at Moorland.
‘The investigation found that there was little to indicate that Mr Lynch was in crisis, or at heightened risk of suicide and that staff could not have foreseen his actions.’
Father-of-four rioter Peter Lynch, pictured, killed himself in jail. A report revealed he felt ‘a strong sense of injustice’ over his sentence and was ‘tearful’ just a month before his death
Mr Lynch pictured on police bodycam footage during anti-immigration riots in Rotherham in August 2024
Mr Lynch had told staff at the prison of his frustration.
The Ombudsman’s report said: ‘On 24 September, a mental health nurse completed a mental health triage assessment.
‘She noted that Mr Lynch was tearful because he was frustrated about being in prison and said he felt a strong sense of injustice related to his offence.
‘Mr Lynch said he felt safe on the house block and had support from other prisoners. He did not want to speak to the mental health team or consider medication and was aware that he could contact the mental health team if this changed.
‘She recorded that Mr Lynch did not have any thoughts of suicide or self-harm.’
On October 17, two days before his death, staff placed Mr Lynch on report pending a disciplinary hearing for using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour contrary to prison rules.
Prison staff reported that Mr Lynch used racist and inflammatory language about migrants.
Mr Lynch’s son told an investigator that he saw his father on the houseblock during the afternoon. He did not have any concerns about his behaviour but said he seemed quieter than normal.
‘Mr Lynch gave his son a hug and returned to his cell,’ the report added.
Mr Lynch made four telephone calls to his family on October 18. He did not express any thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
The Ombudsman said: ‘CCTV shows that at 7.01pm on 18 October, an officer went to Mr Lynch’s cell and gave him written details of the disciplinary hearing which would take place the following day.
‘She spoke to Mr Lynch through the observation panel. At interview, she said that Mr Lynch read the document and did not raise any concerns. This was the last time Mr Lynch was seen alive.’
At the inquest, which took place in October last year, it was concluded that Mr Lynch died by suicide.
Prison staff found him hanging in his cell at 6.24am but did not enter until 6.29am as they were waiting for permission from the night orderly officer. A custodial manager then finally entered, but Mr Lynch was already dead.
The grandfather pictured waving a placard which accused police officers, MPs and the media of being ‘corrupt’
He was one of more than 100 men who have were convicted at Sheffield Crown Court following the Rotherham riots in August 2024, pictured
The riots were stoked as misinformation about the Southport stabbing suspect circulated online – claiming, falsely, that he was a Muslim asylum seeker and giving a fake name
The report said: ‘Under normal circumstances, authority to unlock a cell at night must be given by the Night Orderly Officer and cells should not be opened unless a minimum of two/three members of staff are present.
‘However, staff have a duty of care to prisoners, to themselves and to other staff, and the preservation of life takes precedence over these directions.’
It added: ‘We cannot say that the delay affected the outcome for Mr Lynch, but early intervention is crucial to improving the outcome in cases of hanging.’
Lynch was also pictured holding a placard accusing MPs, judges, the media and the police of corruption.
He was one of more than 100 men who have now been convicted at Sheffield Crown Court following the Rotherham riots, which left 64 police officers injured, as well as four dogs and a horse.
The riots were stoked as misinformation about the Southport stabbing suspect circulated online, falsely claiming that he was a Muslim asylum seeker and giving a fake name.
Mr Lynch pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he shouted ‘racist and provocative remarks’ towards police and called asylum seekers ‘child killers’.
At his sentencing, Judge Richardson told him: ‘You did not yourself attack any police officer, as far as can be detected, but what you did was encourage by your conduct others to behave violently and you were part of this mob.’
The Crown Court heard how Mr Lynch, from Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham, was a ‘family man’ and had been married for 36 years and had four adult children and three grandchildren.
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