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Monro House, where two men were found dead |
Care home drugs deaths room to be used as office
Changes made after tragedies at OAP shelter
A SHELTERED flat in Hampstead where two young men died in mysterious circumstances just six months apart may never be used to house elderly people again, the New Journal has learned.
Council care chiefs running the listed Monro House, in Fitzjohns Avenue, said last night (Wednesday) they were considering moving administrative staff into flat 10, where the bodies of Terence Jolly, 18, and Lawrence Lyon, 23, were found in January and July last year. Both had taken drug overdoses.
Just a week after a coroner returned an open verdict into their deaths from drugs in the bed of an unofficial carer at the block, a council spokesman said the one-bedroom, ground-floor flat would be used as an office.
“Given the strategic location of the flat near the main door, there are plans under consideration to convert it into office space,” the spokesman said.
“This would improve security of the block by allowing the sheltered housing staff a better overview of who is entering and leaving the scheme.”
Residents at Monro House told the New Journal this week that they were still deeply unsettled by the two deaths, which raised questions about how young men were getting powerful drugs into the managed, sheltered block.
Patrick Kelly, who has been a Monro House resident for five years, said: “This is an old people’s home. It shouldn’t be possible for any Tom, Dick or Harry to walk in and out at all hours. The place should be shut down – it’s got a bad name.”
A second resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I have been extremely nervous ever since this started and I do not think that I should be. This is supposed to be sheltered housing. Something should have been done after the first time.”
The council yesterday defended management arrangements, which include a day manager and access to Careline, a 24-hour response service.
After Mr Jolly’s death, CCTV was installed following a security review.
A council press official said: “The sheltered accommodation at Monro House is designed to promote independent living. As in your own home, there are no restrictions on visitors for tenants – everyone has their own front door and the main entrance has a secure intercom. In common with anyone else’s home, tenants are responsible for their own guests.”
A second review, that included input from the police, was held after Mr Lyon’s death.
His mother Marion, from Somers Town, told the New Journal last week of her anguish at the loss of her son, who died of a fatal combination of tamazepam and methadone in the flat when it was leased by Kevin Stokes, 60. Mr Stokes’s carer, Paul Mingo, was cautioned by police for giving Lawrence Lyon three tamazepam tablets on the day before his death. Mr Stokes and Mr Mingo were re-housed in April.
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