Coroner asks Home Office for statement on man’s death on Bibby Stockholm | Immigration and asylum

A coroner has given the Home Office six weeks to provide a written statement on the case of an asylum seeker who is believed to have killed himself onboard the Bibby Stockholm barge.

During a brief inquest opening, the senior coroner, Rachael Griffin, said there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the 27-year-old Albanian man, Leonard Farruku.

The hearing, which took place in Bournemouth, was told that Farruku was identified by his cousin Maranglen Farraku at the Holly Tree Lodge mortuary in the town on 18 December, six days after his body was found on the barge.

Nikki Muller, the senior coroner’s officer, said: “Police and paramedics were called following reports of an unresponsive male at the location. Leonard Farruku was confirmed deceased at the scene and police continue with their inquiries. He was formally identified by his cousin Maranglen Farruku.”

Griffin said there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the 27-year-old. “At the time of his death, Mr Farruku was residing on the Bibby Stockholm at Portland port in Dorset.

“He was a single gentleman and he was unemployed. He died on 12 December 2023 on the Bibby Stockholm. Police and paramedics had been called to reports of an unresponsive male. The gentleman was confirmed deceased at the scene.”
Griffin has requested written statements from the Home Office, port officials, the security providers Isca and the provider of the ship, Landry and Kling, as well as from Dorset police and Dorset council.

She adjourned the hearing until a pre-inquest review, to be held on 9 July. No family members were present at the short hearing.

Several asylum seekers onboard the barge, which is moored in Portland, Dorset, said Farruku had appeared to be in a state of distress shortly before he died, shouting and banging on the wall of his cabin.

Following Farruku’s death, more than 60 charities including Refugee Action, Refugee Council, Care4Calais and Refugees at Home demanded the immediate closure of the Bibby Stockholm in a letter to the Guardian.

They wrote: “For those on board, the Bibby Stockholm feels like a prison. It is cramped, restrictive and segregated. The barge is no place to accommodate people who have fled violence, persecution, and torture, many of whom are traumatised and isolated. They are unable to get the help and specialist support they need. Their mental health has deteriorated and some have felt suicidal.”

They said people on board were paying an “appalling price” and condemned the £22.5m that government officials have admitted it was costing to operate the barge.

On Thursday the Guardian revealed that 23 asylum seekers were thought to have killed themselves in Home Office accommodation in the last four years, more than double the total in the previous four years.

Many local people in Portland have also called for the barge to be closed down, with the mayor of Portland town council, Carralyn Parkes, saying: “It’s cruel, inhumane, we’re better than this. It’s not accommodation, it’s more akin to a prison. It has to be shut down.”