Relatives of a young man who hanged himself in jail say they have new evidence he was bullied by fellow inmates.

And after a six-year fight they finally have an admission from the prison that "there may be a case for neglect" in a 58-page report which details the last hours of Anthony Madden's life.

Anthony was 23 when he died in Armley Prison on his tenth day on remand. A jury inquest returned a verdict of suicide but the family still believe the prison could have done more to protect him.

Now after their battle to get at the truth the family have received a copy of the prison's own internal report into Anthony's death by a senior governor in which the jail admits "there may have been a case of neglect by staff" who failed to ensure he shared a cell at all times.

After sharing a cell for his first nine days, he was then left alone and within hours had taken his own life, using a shirt as a makeshift ligature.

The report states: "We have established that there is evidence to support that Mr Madden had been bullied during his stay."

It adds: "The reception procedure at Armley is archaic and dehumanising. Mr Madden was processed as a routine admission. He was seen by a medical officer who found no indication of any depressive illness or suicidal tendencies. However, because he stated he had felt depressed in 1992 the doctor as a precaution recommended a communal cell."

Christine Knight, Mr Madden's sister, says the report contains powerful new evidence, never presented to the jury, which ought to be heard at a fresh inquest. It contains statements from inmates and prison staff saying the young man was denied canteen privileges and forced to beg cigarettes from fellow inmates, which led to confrontations and bullying, and that he had spoken of taking his own life.

"The coroner, Mr Hinchliffe, had this report, but he didn't call those people as witnesses," said Mrs Knight, of Hawkshead Way, Bradford. "We want another inquest.

"The bullying could have been avoided. We don't believe he was of sound mind when he died and a fairer verdict would have been suicide with neglect. This internal report says there is a case for neglect.''

Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South, said he would approach the Attorney General's office for a second inquest but the ultimate decision would be made by Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine. "Anthony should not have been left on his own, but he was. In my view there was an attempt to cover up what happened. There was then a failure to pursue witnesses who knew Anthony was having problems."

West Yorkshire (Eastern) coroner David Hinchliffe declined to comment.

Chris Walker, head of operations and security at Armley, said: "We learn from every case and try and amend and change our policies."

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