THE BODY which runs Bullingdon Prison has been criticised after a prisoner from Cowley was able to kill himself in a “safe cell”.

Daniel Rooney, 38, of Hollow Way, Cowley, was found hanging just hours after attempting to kill himself in 2006.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) yesterday issued the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), which runs Bullingdon Prison near Bicester, with a Crown Censure criticising it for allowing Mr Rooney to die.

The father-of-eight, also known as John Hughes, was awaiting sentence for burglary when he was found by a prison officer with a noose around his neck trying to tie it around a light fitting at about 7.45pm on September 26, 2006.

He was then identified as a suicide risk and moved to a ‘safe cell’ at about 8pm. But 40 minutes later he was found hanging from a shower rail support bracket with a noose made from bedding.

An examination of the cell found several points where cords could be attached. HSE said the brackets should have been attached to the wall with fixings that were not as strong to support the cord used by Rooney.

Crown Censure is an administrative procedure, where the HSE can summon a Crown employer over a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act which, but for Crown Immunity, would have led to prosecution.

The Crown Censure found that on the date of Mr Rooney’s death, NOMS did not comply with Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Bosses at NOMS said they had taken action to prevent a repeat of the incident.