INVESTIGATIONS into the deaths of two inmates at HMP Risley within two weeks of each other are ongoing.

Prisoner Paul Degg, 46, died in the category C prison on September 29 while Thomas Lawrence, 27, was pronounced dead on October 12.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed, as with all deaths in custody, there will be independent investigations by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman into both men’s deaths

While the prison service spokesman named the two men, it did not reveal any further details about the prisoners or confirm if a post-mortem examination had been carried out into the cause of death.

This is not the first death to be investigated at the Warrington Road prison this year.

Convicted burglar Kevin Delahunty, 40, suffered fatal injuries on March 29 after a blaze broke out at HMP Risley.

So far in 2018, there have been 232 deaths in prisons across England and Wales.

In the latest annual report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman published on October 11, it was noted that deaths by self-harm had dropped this year while drug and psychoactive substances are linked to significant number of the deaths.

Mark Day, head of policy and communications at the Prison Reform Trust, said: “This disturbing report paints a bleak picture of a prison system where people are dying needlessly, and where lessons clearly set out by the ombudsman are not being learned.

“Despite highlighting a welcome fall in self-inflicted deaths, there are worrying signs that this trend is in danger of reversing.

“A lack of suitably qualified mental health professionals in prison and the ability to transfer severely mentally ill people out of prison and into treatment remain significant concerns.

“It is clear that prisons need an effective strategy to deal with the destructive impact of psychoactive substances. This must include measures to limit demand as well as supply.”