Aboriginal death in Long Bay

Aboriginal death in Long Bay

SYDNEY — "The hanging death of Brian Joe Ballard at Long Bay Jail Hospital is the second death to occur this year", said Ray Jackson, public officer of the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee.

"How many more of our brothers and sisters must die before the relevant custodial recommendations are utilised on a daily basis? Every Aboriginal family lives in abject fear when a family member is incarcerated within police cells or prison walls."

Brian Joe Ballard, aged 20, was found hanging by a sheet at 6:00pm on March 1 by prison officers at the Long Bay Jail Hospital in Sydney.

"Three deaths in three months — all in New South Wales prisons — is too high a price for our people to pay", Jackson said.

"The deaths must cease, and only full and proper recognition and daily utilisation of the royal commission recommendations by all custodial officers is going to allow this to happen."

From GLW issue 178