The son of the first summer rioter to die in prison has called for an inquest into why he was jailed.

Casey Lynch also called for the inquest to get answers about why two previous suicide attempts by his father, Peter Lynch, “were not taken seriously” before he was suspected of taking his own life. life.

An inquest on Thursday heard that Lynch, a 61-year-old grandfather who had been jailed following riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers, died by hanging at HMP Moorland in South Yorkshire on October 19. His death was the first. revealed by The Telegraph.

He was jailed in August for two years and eight months by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court who heard how he was in front of a mob that gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4, shouting “scum. ” and “child killers” to the police.

Mr Lynch, described as a conspiracy theorist at his court hearing, was pictured holding a placard stating the corruption of MPs, judges, the media and the police.

At the August 22 sentencing hearing, Judge Richardson heard how Lynch suffered from diabetes, thyroid problems, angina pectoris and had recently suffered a heart attack.

On Thursday, Coroner Nicola Mundy explained to members of Lynch’s family who joined the hearing via video link how the investigation into the circumstances of his death was continuing.

A full inquest will eventually take place before a jury.

– What observations did the judge make?

Casey Lynch raised a number of questions about the inquest, saying: “I would like it investigated if my father should have been there in the first place.”

He also questioned why his father’s two previous suicide attempts were not “taken seriously”.

He asked the coroner if he could source Judge Jeremy Richardson KC’s sentencing remarks, saying: “I want to know what observations he made about my father at sentencing.”

He also said he wanted to know why he had heard a number of accounts about what time his father was last checked on by prison officers the night before he was found dead.

Former prison governor Ian Acheson said: “Any death in custody is a tragedy. Not all can be prevented. However, the profile of this criminal, rightly imprisoned for his role in the riots, suggests to me that he should at least have been considered a suicidal risk.

“The inquest that is due to take place after a fatal incident in a prison will need to explore this in relation to his vulnerability and care.”

The coroner has assured Casey Lynch that he and his family will have input into the inquest and subsequent hearings when she decides the scope of the inquiry.

She urged him to provide the questions his family wanted answered and explained how her role was independent of the police and the Prison Service.

Earlier, Constable Gareth Gent, of South Yorkshire Police, told the inquest how Lynch was last seen alive on Friday, October 18, during a roll call at 7pm.

Staff found him unresponsive and not breathing in the cell the following morning and a “Code Blue” was called at 6.23am.

“No one else involved in the death”

DS Gent said CPR was carried out by officers until paramedics arrived and Lynch was pronounced dead at 6.42am.

The detective said investigations so far have indicated that no one else entered the cell before Lynch was found dead and that no one else was involved in his death.

Lynch was jailed in August after body-worn camera footage was shown in court of him yelling “you protect the people who are killing and raping our children” and “screaming” at police with riot shields.

He was one of more than 60 men who have now been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court following the Rotherham riot which left 64 police officers injured as well as four dogs and a horse.

Riot police were pelted with fencing and other missiles, and at one point an attempt was made to light a trash can outside the hotel as some of those attending broke into the building.

Around 240 asylum seekers were trapped on the upper floors, while staff told how they had to barricade themselves in a panic room on the ground floor, fearing for their lives.

Judge Richardson told Lynch: “You did not attack any police officers yourself, so far as can be detected, but what you did was to encourage others by your behavior to behave violently and you were part of this mob. “

He was filmed repeatedly challenging officers as they tried to push him back with shields, shouting “protect my children” and shouting: “We’re on the streets now to protect our children.”

The crown court heard how Lynch, of Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, had been married for 36 years, had four grown-up children and three grandchildren.

Lynch, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, worked in the packaging industry but was recently unemployed, his lawyer said.

The inquest heard “ancillary investigations” were ongoing into his cause of death and Ms Mundy said she did not yet have a full report from the pathologist. She adjourned the inquest to a date to be determined.