Colleen Madden death: Inquest finds agency failings
A vulnerable woman died in temporary accommodation hours after prison release, an inquest found.
An inquest has found that serious failings by multiple agencies contributed to missed opportunities before the death of Colleen Madden, 31, who died alone in a hotel room on January 13, 2025. Ms Madden had been placed in temporary accommodation in Kings Cross, London, without adequate support on the same day she was released from prison.
The inquest, held at Bow Coroner’s Court, concluded that Ms Madden had been placed in “unsuitable accommodation in an unsuitable location” and that she “deserved and should have been given something better”. Ms Madden had a complex history, including a brain injury, learning disabilities, ADHD, mental health challenges, and substance dependency. She had been released from prison four times between September 2024 and January 2025, with the first three releases resulting in recalls due to accommodation issues.
Identified Failures
The inquest identified several critical failures that impacted Ms Madden's care. These included poor planning for her release, unclear responsibilities among the agencies involved, a lack of mental capacity assessment, weak information sharing between services, and a failure to consult with her family. Catriona McGregor, of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, stated that the inquest exposed "repeated failures to assess, coordinate and plan for the safe release from prison of an exceptionally vulnerable woman whose risks and support needs were well known."
Selen Cavcav, co-lead of casework at charity INQUEST, described the identified failures as "shameful." She commented, "Colleen needed care, housing and support, not repeated recalls to prison and release into homelessness. Her death is a stark reminder that prison is not the answer to poverty, homelessness, poor mental health and substance use."
Ms Madden's family expressed their grief and frustration. In a statement, they said, "We miss our sister beyond words. She was our everything, and she deserved compassion, dignity, and proper care. Instead, we feel she became little more than an administrative task, with no one taking responsibility for her needs."
Questions this report answers
01When and where did Colleen Madden die?
Colleen Madden, aged 31, died in a hotel room in Kings Cross, London, on January 13, 2025. She had been released from prison that same day and placed in temporary accommodation.
02What did the inquest find about the circumstances of her death?
The inquest at Bow Coroner’s Court found serious failings by agencies responsible for her care. These included poor planning, unclear agency responsibility, lack of mental capacity assessment, weak information sharing, and failure to consult her family.
03What was the family's reaction to the findings?
Ms Madden's family stated they feel she was treated as an administrative task rather than receiving the compassion, dignity, and proper care she deserved. They miss her deeply.
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