A MOTHER whose son died in a mental health facility says the last eight days of his life were spent “in what I really believe is hell on Earth”.
Melanie Leahy said Matthew was “alone, malnourished, over-medicated, scared, bleeding, bruised, raped, repeatedly injected, ignored and terrified”.
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Melanie Leahy with her son Matthew, who died aged 20 Credit: PA
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Mum outside the Lampard inquest in Chelmsford, EssexCredit: PA
The 20-year-old was found hanged in November 2012 as a patient at the Linden Center in Chelmsford, Essex.
Ms Leahy said she was told Matthew’s body was a “crime scene” and she was not allowed to touch it.
“The lack of compassion or empathy I experienced that day will stay with me for the rest of my life,” she added.
The health ombudsman found 19 cases of serious failings by the former North Essex Partnership University Trust (NEP), including its response to Matthew’s reports that he had been raped and the failure to write his care plan until after his death.
Matthew claimed he was raped by staff during the night, which they described as a “paranoid and suspicious thought” linked to his “delusional disorder”.
The police came but did nothing.
The health ombudsman concluded that NEP “failed to properly assign a key worker to Matthew, plan his care effectively, engage with him consistently, manage his level of observation appropriately, assess or fully manage risk, do enough to look after his physical health and to take appropriate measures when he reported being raped”.
Ms Leahy has long campaigned for a public inquiry amid similar complaints of “omissions” from other families.
The Lampard Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard CBE, is now investigating more than 2,000 mental health deaths in Essex between 2000 and 2023.
This includes people who died within three months of being discharged from hospital and those who died as patients receiving NHS-funded care in the independent sector.
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Addressing the inquiry, surrounded by photographs of Matthew, Mrs Leahy said: “When Matthew became weak, we turned to so-called professionals for help, to help us understand what was happening and to help us find a way to help our son.
“I was a parent, my duty was to protect my child.
“I worked hard all my life to raise him well and teach him morals.
“I loved, supported, encouraged and guided and nurtured him in his adulthood.
“However, eight days in the care of the state and my son died. I will never come to terms with that.”
Now every day and every night I can’t escape the reality and accompanying sadness that my beautiful, handsome boy is gone
Melanie LeahyMom
She claimed that during his time at the Linden Centre, he was “alone, malnourished, over-medicated, scared, bleeding, bruised, raped, repeatedly injected, ignored and terrified”.
There was also “no record of any staff in those last days of his life offering him any comfort,” she added.
Lampard’s inquest, which opened earlier this month, heard directly from the families of those killed.
Ms Leahy said: “This is a place I’ve been fighting to get to for the wrong reasons.
“I’m Matthew’s mum and I’m testifying on his behalf. He can’t speak for himself or explain what happened.”
‘FOCUS ON MY LIFE’
She said her son is a “beautiful soul,” who “understands compassion and cares for others.”
“He was generous, he was kind, he excelled in school and he was smart. He was funny,” Ms Leahy added.
“Ever since I first held my son in my arms as a baby, I always expected to spend my whole life with Matthew.
“Now every day and every night I cannot escape the reality and accompanying sadness that my beautiful, handsome boy is gone.
“Matthew’s death and who is responsible for it became and still is the focus of my life.”
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Mrs Leahy with a photo of her son before the hearing started Credit: PA
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Matthew was found dead while a patient at the Linden Center in 2012. Credit: PA
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His family campaigned for an investigation for more than a decadeCredit: PA
Priya Singh, a partner at law firm Hodge Jones & Allen who represents more than 120 victims and families, previously described the state of mental health services in Essex as an “ongoing scandal”.
“We fought with the families for more than four years to get this legally prescribed inquiry, to have the same powers as the Post Office and Covid inquiries,” she said.
“This investigation must get to the bottom of how these people died, to allow the families some closure and understanding as to why their loved ones were lost while in the care of the state.
“Only when we know what happened, changes can happen.
“Unfortunately, the situation in Essex is repeated every day across the country, which is why this investigation is of fundamental importance.
“We will push for interim recommendations to prevent more people from dying while the investigation continues.
“This tragedy must stop.”
The Lampard investigation
THE Lampard Inquiry is an independent statutory inquiry into the deaths of mentally ill patients in Essex.
It was set up to find out what happened, why it happened and make recommendations to try to prevent what went wrong from happening again.
The investigation is investigating the deaths of more than 2,000 people between 2000 and 2023.
Chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard CBE, it will hear testimony from former patients, bereaved families, professionals and staff.
Because it has statutory status, anyone called to testify has a legal obligation to appear.
A previous attempt in 2021 – the Essex Independent Mental Health Inquiry – lacked statutory powers and was abandoned after only 11 staff out of 14,000 contacted agreed to give evidence.
The inquest began on September 9 in Chelmsford and is likely to conclude in 2026.
Marjorie Wallace, founder and chief executive of mental health charity SANE, added: “In more than 40 years of being involved in investigations, this is the biggest inquiry into mental health services I have seen in this country.
“Families have waited too long.
“They deserve answers to what happened to their sons, daughters, fathers and mothers in the darkest moments of their lives, so faith in mental health services can be restored.”
Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said: “I want to say how sorry I am to anyone who has lost a loved one or whose care was not up to the standard it should have been.
“I welcome Lampard’s inquiry and we will do everything we can to support Baroness Lampard and the team in providing the answers that families and patients are looking for.”
Help for mental health
If you or anyone you know needs help with mental health issues, the following organizations offer support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
Mind, www.mind.org, provides information about the types of mental health problems and where you can get help for them. Email [email protected] or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates and mobile phone charges will vary).
YoungMinds runs a free, confidential parent helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers who are concerned about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website also has a chat option.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, provides advice and information services offering practical advice on a wide range of topics such as the Mental Health Act, social care, social benefits and carers’ rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged according to your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is a mental health initiative led by the Prince and Princess of Wales Royal Foundation.
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Mrs Leahy said her son was a ‘beautiful soul’Credit: PA
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The Lampard Inquiry looks at more than 2,000 deaths in Essex between 2000 and 2023. Credit: PA
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She said: ‘Matthew’s death and who is responsible is still at the center of my life’ Credit: PA
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