Father-of-four rioter who died in prison 'took his own life'

According to sources, a father of four, who was imprisoned for verbally attacking police officers outside a hotel that was sheltering asylum seekers, has tragically taken his own life while incarcerated.

Peter Lynch, 61, a father of four, passed away on Saturday night at HMP Moorland, located near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, according to confirmation from the prison service.

Sources from the prison service indicated that he ended his own life, although this has not been officially verified.

He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after being incarcerated in August. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) is currently conducting an independent inquiry into the circumstances of his death.

Lynch, who dealt with diabetes, thyroid problems, and chest pain, and had just experienced a heart attack, was arrested for shouting at officers outside a hotel in Rotherham where asylum seekers were being housed.

On August 4, the grandfather, labeled a conspiracy theorist, visited the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, carrying a sign that claimed police officers, Members of Parliament, NASA, and the Environment Agency were 'corrupt.'

At his sentencing on August 22, Lynch, described as a 'family man', admitted to charges of violent disorder. He had yelled 'racist and inflammatory comments' at the police and referred to asylum seekers as 'child killers'.

Peter Lynch, 61, passed away on Saturday at HMP Moorland, located near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, where he was serving a sentence of two years and eight months.

The police bodycam video from August captures Lynch amidst the anti-immigration riots that took place in Rotherham.

On August 4, the grandfather visited the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, holding a sign that labeled police officers, Members of Parliament, and the media as 'corrupt.'

According to The Telegraph, Lynch would qualify for the new early release program that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently implemented.

A representative from the prison service stated: "Peter Lynch, an inmate at HMP Moorland, passed away on October 19, 2024. In line with standard procedure for all fatalities occurring in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation."

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman informed MailOnline: "We are conducting an independent inquiry into the death of Peter Lynch, which took place on October 19, 2024, at HMP Moorland."

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his friends and loved ones.

During Lynch's sentencing hearing, it was revealed that he played an active role in the riot. Video recordings showed him shouting at the police, labeling them as 'scum,' while accusing them of protecting those responsible for harming children.

When Judge Jeremy Richardson KC inquired about the significance of the sign Ian West was holding, the defense attorney replied, "It represents a broad conspiracy theory aimed at anyone in a position of authority. This issue was somewhat unrelated to the events of that day."

Judge Richardson stated, "While you did not physically assault any police officers yourself, your actions inspired others to act violently, and you were involved in this group."

The judge described the man, who is a father of four and a grandfather of three, as a 'shameful role model for a grandparent,' according to a report by the Guardian.

"You were clearly trying to improve the situation as much as you could," Judge Richardson said.

Over 50 police officers sustained injuries during the rioting in Rotherham on August 4, where windows were shattered and asylum seekers were left in fear for their safety.

On August 4, aggressive individuals attempted to set the hotel, which was said to be accommodating asylum seekers, on fire and obstructed the emergency exits in Rotherham.

An officer with a police dog at the far-right protest in front of the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham.

Mr. West informed the court that Lynch, who hails from Wath-upon-Dearne in Rotherham, has been married for 36 years and has four grown children along with three grandchildren.

The lawyer mentioned that he was previously employed in the packaging sector but has recently lost his job.

Lynch was among over 50 individuals who have been sentenced to prison at Sheffield Crown Court due to the rioting in Rotherham. The disturbances resulted in injuries to 64 police officers, along with four dogs and a horse.

Around 64 police officers sustained injuries during the riot, along with four dogs and a horse. The situation escalated with windows being broken and asylum seekers feeling threatened as a crowd, fueled by extreme right-wing messages online, attempted to break into the hotel.

Some people vandalized the walls with hostile graffiti, scrawling words like 'scum' and 'leave England.' Meanwhile, others set fire to trash bins and threw them at the windows of the hotel.

The unrest was fueled by misleading information shared online regarding the suspect in the Southport stabbing. False claims circulated that he was a Muslim asylum seeker and provided a fictitious name.

It was circulated by several prominent far-right individuals on the internet, along with a news site linked to Russia.