THE DEATHS OF two people being held in a Northern Ireland prison are to be investigated by The Police Service of Northern Ireland, a coroner and the Prisoner Ombudsman.

Nineteen-year-old father of one Samuel Carson from North Belfast and Frances McKeown, a married mother of two from Co Armagh, are both believed to have taken their own lives inside their cells at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders’ Centre and Prison in south Belfast.

The Irish News reports today that Pauline McCabe, the Prisoner Ombudsman, extended her sympathies to the families of both prisoners and said she has started investigations into both deaths.

SDLP representative Conall McDevitt called for a separate independent investigation into the deaths.

Carson was a former British soldier and was awaiting trial on a number of charges relating to an incident with a 15 year old girl.

McKeown was due to be sentenced after pleading guilty to hijacking, posession of a knife, dangerous driving and criminal damage.

Both were found in  cells on different wings of the prison and a ligature was found in both their cells.

Neither inmate was on suicide watch. In total, 16 prisoners have died by suicide in Northern Ireland’s three prisons since 2005.

For more information read this story in today’s The Irish News.