Prisoners at HMP Isle of Wight, who said they suffered physical and psychological harm after a major fire broke out 7 years ago, have received a pay-out after taking legal action against the Ministry of Justice.
The matter was due to go to the High Court for trial but at a hearing earlier this week it was confirmed the MoJ has now settled out of court.
It was on 18th February 2015 when a fire that had been started intentionally by a prisoner, Dino Laximidas, broke out in Alpha Wing of House Unit 15 whilst prisoners were locked in their cells and unable to evacuate.
7 Fire Appliances, an Aerial Ladder Platform and the Incident Command Unit were mobilised to the scene alongside a total of 8 Ambulances.
A major incident was declared as a result of the blaze which took hold of the 2nd and 3rd floors of the wing, injuring 15 prisoners with 4 of them transported to St Mary’s Hospital. A further 6 patients were treated with oxygen at the prison, 2 of which were admitted to the prison hospital.
In total 86 prisoners were moved to the prisons gym as a result of the fire.
Sources tell Island Echo that the fire spread very fast with thick black smoke filling the wing. It is said that at least 1 prisoner had to be given CPR on the wing landing after inhaling acrid smoke.
Legal action by over 20 people – who were prisoners at the time – claimed that there were a series of breaches of duty of care by the Ministry of Justice.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said:
“We only settle when it is in the interest of taxpayers and any outstanding debts owed to victims must be paid before prisoners receive a penny.”
As only the most vile gets imprisonment now, it is a shame that the money was not just needed for a fitting tombstone instead.
Most being a costly liability from their all too long period from cradle to to the grave.
Let us hope the fear these low lives felt is more than their victims endured, which sadly, is highly unlikely.
Is this Country going mad, if they hadn’t committed serious crime and harm to others then wouldn’t of been in prison. The inmate who started the fire should be the one to compensate . We have had thousands of people dieing in hospitals, loved ones unable to say good bye, family distraught etc through COVID where is their compensation for physical and physiological harm and they had done nothing wrong or harm to others !.
Serial complainers prisoners .. a total waste of tax payers money.
Shame on the MOJ for giving in and paying out to this total load of scum – sex offenders and child predators, they should all burn in hell.
They didn’t receive the duty of care what the hell those kids they’ve ruined life’s by sexually assaulted murders life’s they destroyed come on play the game they got no right to breath
Why not deduct the cost of incarceration, students have to repay loans, elderly have to pay for care, so why not scum like these paying their way. Nanny state gone mad.
Who was the idiot who put the fire out.
They will all jump on the band wagon now more fires to come
Wow. That scum don’t deserve a penny. How about all the compensation they got goes to their victims instead.
The staff should’ve just all walked out & let the prisoners burn alive. They are the violist criminals, the worst of the worse sexual beasts. They’ve comitted the most heinous acts. They all deserve to die for those crimes.
The ‘wokes’ win again
Should have let the scum burn. Absolutely disgusting that they are receiving anything after the crimes they have carried out.
more money out of the tax payers pocket for them to go with there en-suite rooms, Tv, Play Station, Room service, while the hard working public are struggling to feed there family’s.
The victims get nothing as usual! The prison officers get nothing as usual! The crime offenders get everything! P***take yet again!