The Metropolitan Reception and Remand Centre is one of the three facilities that make up the Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney. Photo: Google Maps.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to the name of a First Nations person who has died.
An inquest heard how a Yuin man died from a heart attack in jail after tear gas was deployed to stop a fight he had already been trying to break up.
Gregory Ronald Merriman was of Yuin heritage and was a direct descendant of Umbarra, or King Merriman, who was a revered elder of the Djiringanj people on the NSW Far South Coast.
He had deep connections to the Gadigal Land and the tribes of the Eora Nation, which is around Sydney, where he was raised, Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame wrote in her recently-released findings.
She said he was in custody when a fight broke out between inmates at the Metropolitan Reception and Remand Centre in Silverwater on 27 December 2022.
“Greg was not involved in the fight, and it is likely that he made verbal attempts to calm others as he is seen on the CCTV footage approaching the vicinity of the inmates who were fighting and then moving away as they moved towards him,” she said.
A tactical response team was called in to stop the fight and fired tear gas at some inmates while Mr Merriman was nearby.
Half an hour later, a nurse found the 58-year-old unresponsive in his cell. Efforts were made to revive him, but he was pronounced dead.
A post-mortem found his cause of death was an acute heart attack. The inquest heard Mr Merriman had advanced heart disease for which he wasn’t receiving treatment.
The tactical response team deployed orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile during the fight, which is a tear gas known as CS gas. An inmate said it “made it very hard to breathe … It was pretty horrible actually”.
Officers must give a warning before discharging CS gas, but this hadn’t been done as the team thought they had to intervene in the fight quickly.
“I accept, given the large number of prisoners present, that officers had a legitimate concern that the situation could escalate quickly and that serious injury or death could result,” deputy coroner Grahame said.
She also said there was no evidence Mr Merriman was exposed to a significant dose of CS gas and, after listening to experts, she did not think the gas was a direct factor in his death.
“While the stressful context of Greg’s return to his cell may have raised his blood pressure and heart rate, it must be emphasised that Greg had significant pre-existing disease which is the root cause of his untimely death,” she said.
She made a recommendation that Corrective Services NSW identify inmates who are affected by gas or are in need of medical attention after chemical munitions are deployed.
Mr Merriman was part of the Stolen Generations and endured a traumatic childhood.
“Greg’s life was not an easy one, but his family was clear that he was never short of love,” Deputy Coroner Grahame said.
His brother described him as a “larrikin” who was preparing to take on a greater role as an elder, while his daughter said he would “give you the shirt off his back if he could”.
The deputy coroner said he became the Koori delegate when he was taken into custody and was clearly well-respected, as he was regarded as “a peacemaker, tutor, mentor and friend”.
“Greg’s family emphasised that there are far too many First Nations people who share similar histories, reflecting the continuing impacts of colonisation, intergenerational trauma and social exclusion on daily life. I share their concerns,” she said.
“His family wished for Greg’s story to be heard and hoped that the system Greg spent his life struggling against might change so that other families do not experience a similar loss.”
Congratulations again Councillor Winslade. You seem to be the only one concerned with the costings… View