Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

4.34 In oral evidence to the inquiry, Mrs Williams said that she had assumed that the
whole matter would be investigated by the police, including Mr Lodge’s allegations
against Mr Brownley:
“My view now is that when I went to see Governor Harrison and he told me the matter
was being dealt with and would be investigated, that I understood that meant all of the
matters would be investigated. He had copies of all of the letters and it would all be
investigated.”
Governor Halliwell’s evidence
4.35 Governor Halliwell, who spoke to Mr Lodge at Garth prison, wrote to Governor
Williams on 2 July to inform her of Mr Lodge’s account of the incident. In his memo he
said that, although there was no support for what Mr Lodge said, he believed there was
substance to his version of events. Governor Halliwell said he “had advised [Mr Lodge]
to tell the truth to the interviewing police as I believe he has told me”.
4.36 When questioned by the inquiry about why he believed Mr Lodge was telling the
truth, Governor Halliwell said it was “Basically because he wasn’t wanting to shift the
blame. The way that he represented himself, he wasn’t looking for anything, he wasn’t
seeking any favours. And he was also quite apologetic in as much as he was saying, ‘I
shouldn’t be telling you this’. And he was also concerned, at one stage, about getting the
officer into trouble. And he was reluctant to … explain to me fully about what had
happened.”
Mr Halliwell told the inquiry that he formed his opinion and wrote the memo without any
knowledge of the officer involved. He commented that it was common, in prisons, to
submit pieces of information “even though you haven’t got a full picture yourself. It may
actually form part of a bigger picture. It could be part of a jigsaw…. if Bernard’s [Sonny
Lodge’s] description of the events was also supported by the officer’s past behaviour it
might be useful for the Governor of Risley to have in his possession, if considering any
further action at any time.”
Mr Brownley’s evidence
4.37 Mr Brownley told the inquiry he was not aware of a rumour that he intended to
contrive an assault. He did not recall any conversation with Governor Williams about it,
though he recalled a meeting about timekeeping. He agreed that he had been banned
from driving but said he was reorganising his domestic arrangements so that travelling
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