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Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

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Chapter 4:<br />

THE INCIDENT AT WHISTON HOSPITAL: 27 JUNE 1998<br />

Summary<br />

4.1 An incident occurred in a toilet cubicle at Whiston Hospital. Sonny Lodge was<br />

alleged to have assaulted a prison <strong>of</strong>ficer and was restrained by <strong>the</strong> escorting <strong>of</strong>ficers<br />

and an <strong>of</strong>f-duty police <strong>of</strong>ficer. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers sustained a dislocated thumb. Sonny<br />

Lodge admitted pushing <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer, but claimed this was in response to an assault upon<br />

him.<br />

4.2 This chapter sets out <strong>the</strong> evidence about <strong>the</strong> incident at Whiston Hospital. It<br />

includes <strong>the</strong> evidence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two escorting <strong>of</strong>ficers and <strong>the</strong> police <strong>of</strong>ficer who assisted<br />

and what Sonny Lodge said about <strong>the</strong> incident in letters and is reported to have said to<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r people. It includes evidence about <strong>the</strong> disciplinary history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer Sonny<br />

Lodge was alleged to have assaulted and about Sonny Lodge’s character and credibility.<br />

Uncontested evidence<br />

4.3 Sonny Lodge spent <strong>the</strong> night <strong>of</strong> 26 June in Warrington Hospital but was taken to<br />

Whiston Hospital for treatment <strong>the</strong> next day. He was escorted by Officer Clucas and<br />

Officer Brownley. The incident occurred at a toilet cubicle <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> accident and<br />

emergency waiting area. Officer Brownley was outside <strong>the</strong> cubicle and <strong>the</strong> door was ajar.<br />

Mr Lodge lit a cigarette. Officer Brownley moved forward, pushing <strong>the</strong> door fur<strong>the</strong>r open.<br />

Mr Lodge pushed Officer Brownley backwards. The <strong>of</strong>ficer fell against a trellis screen,<br />

knocking it over and falling to <strong>the</strong> floor. Mr Lodge followed him out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cubicle. The<br />

incident lasted only seconds.<br />

4.4 Officer Clucas ran to assist. He and Officer Brownley took hold <strong>of</strong> Mr Lodge to<br />

restrain him and put him on <strong>the</strong> floor. Mr Lodge resisted and <strong>the</strong>re was a struggle. Officer<br />

Brownley exclaimed that his left thumb was dislocated. An <strong>of</strong>f-duty police <strong>of</strong>ficer, Mr<br />

Routledge, came to help. Mr Lodge was handcuffed. The police attended. No one except<br />

Officer Brownley and Mr Lodge witnessed what happened in <strong>the</strong> cubicle. Nei<strong>the</strong>r Officer<br />

Clucas nor Mr Routledge had a direct view <strong>of</strong> how far Officer Brownley moved towards<br />

Mr Lodge. After <strong>the</strong> incident, Officer Brownley had an operation on his thumb and was<br />

medically retired from <strong>the</strong> Prison Service at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> 34 on grounds <strong>of</strong> disablement.<br />

24

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