Magistrates back calls for support for young offenders leaving prison

Teen's death 'mustn't happen again'

Magistrates on the Isle of Man have called for improved support for young people leaving the care system or prison.

It follows the death of a teenager from a drug overdose in January this year.

Eighteen-year-old Morgan John Ritchie died less than a month after being released from the Isle of Man Prison.

His death was recorded as being a result of non-dependent abuse of drugs including heroin and diazepam.

The inquest into his death heard Mr Ritchie was of no fixed abode having spent much of his childhood in care.

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At his inquest, held earlier this year, Coroner of Inquests Jayne Hughes said she would be contacting the Department of Home Affairs to recommend suitable homes are made available to people leaving the system.

It’s a view echoed by magistrate Gill Eaton – the deputy chair of the Isle of Man Bench - who has told a Tynwald committee there is nowhere for them to go: