The family of a Scots dad who died after being restrained by police and hospital staff for up to three hours during a mental health crisis are demanding answers about his death. Joseph Sneddon passed away at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on April 8, 2022, just two days after his worried family called for an ambulance over fears for his welfare.
The 37-year-old’s condition continued to deteriorate as he appeared ‘confused and agitated’ with hospital staff telling his sister that a ‘security guard would be sitting beside him at all times’ after he was moved wards while awaiting stronger medication. Police officers from Kirkcaldy were called to Ward 43.
Just hours later, sibling Laura received a follow up phone call telling her to come to the hospital as her brother had taken a turn for the worse.
When she arrived at the hospital with mum Jane, 64, and dad James, 71, they were told their loved one’s ‘heart had stopped’ and despite ‘working on him for 30 minutes’, Joseph couldn’t be saved. The family later discovered he had been restrained in a heavily redacted post mortem report which revealed his cause of death was “sudden death in a man with a significant acidosis following a prolonged period of struggling and restraint”.
The report added: “Mr Sneddon appears to have been restrained for a 2 ½ to 3 hour hour period and during this entire time had been very agitated and was extensively fighting against the restraints”. He was found to have 36 separate injuries including cuts and bruises on his head, body, legs, arms and face.
Joseph’s family now want to know why he was restrained this way, how many hospital staff and police officers were involved and what restraint methods were used. They are also questioning the lack of information provided to the family by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), who have launched a probe into the death following police contact, as well as Police Scotland and NHS Fife.
It is understood the actions of 6 police officers and 2 security guards involved are being investigated.
The family are today meeting with the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC in Edinburgh in a bid to get answers. Grieving mum-of-four Jane, from Ballingry, said: “All I want is answers as to what happened to my son and why he isn't at home with me and his family. There is no reason why he shouldn't be with his sons now.
“I want to know who was in contact with Joe during the four hours he was strapped to a hospital bed, obviously afraid and wanting to go home. I want them to look me in the eye and tell me how they thought this was OK to happen. Joe didn't die from drink, drugs or ill health - he died from negligence of hospital staff and police.
“If they have any decency at all they should hold up their hands and say they got it wrong.
“This is eating away at our family, as a mother I can't eat or sleep thinking about what my son had to go through before his heart stopped and they stood by and watched till it was too late.”
She added: “In this day and age, if somebody is like that (agitated), you can give them something to calm them down. You don’t need to have them strapped down for four hours. I know for a fact that Joe would have been fighting that to get up. He’d have been petrified and wanting home. He’d be missing the bairns.
“I want answers and I want to know whether somebody was in that room with him for four hours or have they strapped him down and he’s been left there and by the time they’ve come in, it’s been too late.
“After I fall asleep, I wake up thinking ‘has this happened’ or ‘was he shouting for us and we’ve not been there’. His dad’s been waking up too. We can’t keep going - we need answers.”
Speaking at a press conference, Lawyer Aamer Anwar added: “The Sneddon family feel Joseph’s loss every day, they are grieving for a son, brother and father, yet are further traumatised by the complete lack of information that they are fully entitled to.
“Why did the police officers not speak to them at the hospital? If a member of the public was attacked on the street, whether they were stabbed or a victim of violence, the family would automatically be told who was suspected of being involved, what the injuries were, what happened and how they came to meet their death.
“Yet, when police officers become involved in this country, for some reason a veil of secrecy is deployed and that doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t restore public confidence.”
He added that the family contacted him following his involvement in the case of Fife dad Sheku Bayoh, who died in police custody in Kirkcaldy in May 2015.
In a statement made via Mr Anwar following the hearing, the family added: "The family of Joseph Sneddon welcomed today’s meeting with the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC.
"The Lord Advocate was told by the family that they have been tortured by the lack of information as to how and why Joseph Sneddon met his death. 21 pages of the post-mortem had 11 pages totally redacted.
"The Lord Advocate said the narrative of restraint of Joseph Sneddon is critical to determining if there is any potential criminality on behalf of the police officers, security guards, and the Victoria Hospital and the Crown Office wanted to ensure that the narrative was accurate and nothing interfered with the integrity of their investigation.
"The family advised the Lord Advocate that they have no confidence in the ability of the PIRC to deliver a robust and impartial investigation.
"The Lord Advocate revealed today that they are investigating the actions of 6 police officers and 2 security guards, who were involved restrained Joseph for a period of up to 2 ½ to 3 hours.
"They applied fast straps and a spit hood to Joseph, he had 36 separate injuries to his body. It is clear that Joseph was a terrified young man as he faced the brutal use of force, in what his family had hoped would be a place of safety whilst he was in the midst of a mental health crisis.
"The Lord Advocate promised the family a robust ad independent investigation. The family are aware that the police officers left the hospital to return to Kirkcaldy Police Office and were allowed to sit together.
"They also now know that following Joseph’s death, the CID were involved in searching Joseph’s hous. Which senior officer at Police Scotland instructed the CID to search for such information?
"Did Police Scotland really think that Joseph’s life was so cheap that his family would just walk away? The Sneddon family are determined to fight for justice and the truth for Joseph, however long it takes."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Mr Sneddon’s family and friends at this time. Police Scotland has cooperated fully with the investigation into this matter and will continue to support all those involved. Given that enquiries remain ongoing, we are unable to comment further.”
A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family on the loss of their loved one. NHS Fife is unable to comment further whilst enquiries are ongoing.”
Lord Advocate for Scotland Dorothy Bain KC said: “I would like to thank the Sneddon family for meeting with me and for sharing their experiences. I was able to update them on the initial and on-going investigation into Joseph’s death and I listened carefully to what they had to say.
“The Crown is committed to the thorough and effective investigation of all deaths which occur in legal custody. The Crown have engaged and updated the family in the course of the investigation, and are committed to continuing to do so as the investigation continues.”
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) and Procurator Fiscal Service have been contacted for comment.
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