Appeal on Scholes inquiry is heard

The mother of a 16-year-old boy who died in a young offender institution appealed this week against the government’s refusal to set up a public inquiry into his death.

Yvonne Scholes, whose son Joseph hanged himself at Stoke Heath young offender institution in 2002, lost a High Court bid in January to have the inquiry. The two-day appeal hearing this week was expected to end yesterday (19 July).

At the inquest into Joseph’s death, the coroner wrote to the secretary of state recommending a public inquiry.

Speaking ahead of the appeal hearing, Yvonne Scholes said: “The fact that there has never been an inquiry disgusts me. If this was a death in social services there would be an outcry.”