British tourist, 46, beaten to death in Thai prison after being accused of stealing a moped

[Lite Beer]

British tourist, 46, beaten to death in Thai prison after being accused of stealing a moped

A British tourist accused of stealing a moped in Thailand was beaten to death in jail by a fellow inmate while in prison, an inquest has heard.

Sean Flanagan died after a man allegedly jumped onto his body with both knees before pressing down on him so hard he suffered broken ribs and 'blunt-object trauma'.

Yet it took Thai authorities eight months to begin an investigation into the death, following pressure from the victim's family.

Initially, the authorities had claimed that Flanagan had fallen off a wall but another prisoner at Pattaya Remand Prison has now been charged with his manslaughter

Mr Flanagan, 46, divided his time between his home at Dalton, Cumbria, and Thailand, where his girlfriend lived.

Ian Smith, the coroner for South and East Cumbria, concluded Flanagan’s death was due to ‘injuries following an assault or assaults’.

A post mortem was carried out on April 24 after his body was repatriated, the inquest at Barrow Town Hall heard yesterday.

The cause of death was recorded as blunt chest trauma, but bruising to the face, abdomen and limbs was also noted.

Read More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2624092/British-tourist-46-beaten-death-Thai-prison-accused-stealing-moped.html

--Mail Online 2014-05-09

[TVGerry]

2nd prison death reported in the press this week. I wonder how many unreported ones there are.

[sjjmmi]

Thainess at it's best

[EricBerg]

That "other prisoner" may very well be randomly picked to quickly silence the bad publicity.

The "fallen off a wall"-story was prolly chosen to prevent bad publicity of murder in prison.

[Chicog]

It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?

[espinoza]

The executing will be out on 50K baht bail very soon.

If he`s not already released.

[Pralaad]

Thainess at it's best

Its a prison not a church.

The nicest people do not really end up in prison, many are lifers and could not care less to kill someone over the silliest thing

Nothing to do with Thainess,, same all over the world.

[espinoza]

Shame on Thailand, again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[casindonet]

8 mths just to begin investigation? BIB are seriously useless.

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[casualbiker]

It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?

There are prisons and prisons.. Thai prisons are not very good ... many prisoners in one room

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Crushdepth]

It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?

Not being beaten to death is a reasonable expectation.

[djjamie]

RIP…

How do you steal a moped while in jail?

[Thai at Heart]

What have the embassy been up to?

[Som wat]

That "other prisoner" may very well be randomly picked to quickly silence the bad publicity.

The "fallen off a wall"-story was prolly chosen to prevent bad publicity of murder in prison.

Was probably an illiterate Cambodian fisherman or Burmese labourer.

[BeforeTigers]

I'm not one to rag on thai English language news for bad grammar, but w-t-f does a moped have to do with anything in this story?

These people have zero professioanl pride in their work.
Just the most inane bs you can imagine, daily.

Edited May 9, 2014 by BeforeTigers

[PS2]

Mr Flanagan, 46, divided his time between his home at Dalton, Cumbria, and Thailand, where his girlfriend lived.

Yes , the innocent "tourist"

[GAZZPA]

It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?

You don't expect to be beaten to death for nicking a moped do you. Stupid comment.

Hope they have the right man and justice is done. Disgusting it took repatriation of his body and post mortem to bring it to the attention of the Thai police. Don't believe for a minute that the Thai's didn't draw the same conclusions, they may be a developing country but they have competent doctors.

RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

[sirineou]

It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?

being accused of the theft of a moped should not be a death sentence. Prison or not, how would you like it if it was your brother, would you then say " It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?"

[Som wat]

I'm not one to rag on thai English language news for bad grammar, but w-t-f does a moped have to do with anything in this story?

These people have zero professioanl pride in their work.

Just the most inane bs you can imagine, daily.

Because many people would accuse him of possibly being a pedo/drug dealer etc. etc.

Listing the alleged crime has thankfully saved us that.

[sirineou]

It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?

Chicog, I have seen many f your posts,

Who can miss them with your avatar

and for the most part your posts seem to be reasonable ,But this one is a real Doozy

I don't get it, We all lay a stinker every once in a while, but brother , you stank up the place with this one

[MacWalen]

Moral of the story. Don't be an idiot in Thailand. Don't break the law. Don't go to jail. Don't die in prison.

[Chicog]

Thai prisons are not holiday camps. I make no apology for not finding this sad tale to be noteworthy.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[marcusd]

I'm not one to rag on thai English language news for bad grammar, but w-t-f does a moped have to do with anything in this story?

These people have zero professioanl pride in their work.

Just the most inane bs you can imagine, daily.

I think they are highlighting that it was not such a serious matter like drugs or murder or rape

[sweatalot]

Moral of the story. Don't be an idiot in Thailand. Don't break the law. Don't go to jail. Don't die in prison.

you forget:

don't be accused if innocent

[Basil B]

It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?

being accused of the theft of a moped should not be a death sentence. Prison or not, how would you like it if it was your brother, would you then say " It's a prison people, what do you expect, crochet classes and finger painting?"

Seeing he was technically on remand and had not been found guilty, and the offence was none violent, why was he not just bailed after surrendering his passport?

Not exactly a big crime, he attempted to steel a bike, they got the bike back, not a big loss.

If he did skip bail and get out of Thailand he would never be allowed back.

[petedk]

It's amazing how some of you guys have so much sympathy with this tourist yet in another thread we read about a Thai man being killed by a BMW driver and you say that he deserved it.

Double standards!

Everyone deserves a fair trial but sadly that rarely happens here for the poor and some foreigners.

Edited May 9, 2014 by petedk

[noitom]

They lied for eight months that it was a fall. The Thais didn't begin to investigate for eight months.

[Katipo]

Thainess at it's best

Its a prison not a church.

The nicest people do not really end up in prison, many are lifers and could not care less to kill someone over the silliest thing

Nothing to do with Thainess,, same all over the world.

It's not the death. It's the cover up by authorities that is the Thainess.

[Jack Mountain]

RIP…

How do you steal a moped while in jail?

Maybe the moped was one of the tinyer prisonmates ....

[cardinalblue]

What's thai about it is the cover-up because Thais are so worried about their image projection to the outside...

Always face and style over substance and truth which loses its ability as a society and individually to advance...