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This story contains references to suicide.
The family of an Indigenous man who died by suicide in 2023 while in custody at the Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney has been delivered an apology during the inquest into his death.
Gary McCahon, commissioner of Corrective Services NSW, offered his apology on Wednesday morning during an inquest into the death of Wiradjuri man Tian Jarrah ‘TJ’ Denniss, who died on 5 August 2023.
The inquest, which started on 8 September, has heard evidence of Corrective Services staff watching television while on duty the night Denniss died, and of potentially fatal delays in delivering first aid to the 33-year-old, who was unresponsive in his cell.
McCahon addressed several members of Denniss’ family who were in attendance at the Coroners Court in Lidcombe, as well as others watching via video link.
The Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW delivered an apology during an inquest into the death of Tian Jarrah Denniss on 5 August 2023. Credit: Supplied
He said he “deeply and sincerely apologise for any ways the officers and Corrective Services NSW failed you and how that failure may have contributed to Tian Jarrah’s death”.
“I understand some of the officers have given evidence to the court that they could have done more and they should have done more, and I agree we should have done more.”
McCahon said he was committed to listening to evidence in the inquest and findings, as well as acting on recommendations from the coroner, so that the circumstances that led to Denniss’ death won’t be repeated.
He said his expectation was that those in the care of Corrective Services NSW were managed humanely.
“Those who choose not to adhere to that should not remain in my employ,” he said.
Before being transferred to the NSW correctional system, Denniss was in custody in the ACT, where in 2018, he was the subject of a hangman game, drawn by prison guards. A separate ACT inquiry is also due to take place.
