Mt Eden Prison Death: Victim Identified as Robert Fitzpatrick, Cellmate Charged

Tragedy struck once again at Auckland's Mt Eden Corrections Facility, where an inmate was allegedly killed in a violent incident on June 27. The victim has now been identified as Robert Norman Fitzpatrick, a 46-year-old man from Whangārei. The alleged perpetrator, a 32-year-old male, has been arrested and charged with murder.

According to reports, both men were housed in a double-bunked cell and had prior connections with mental health services. Fitzpatrick had recently been in a mental health unit in Whangārei as part of a compulsory treatment order and was in custody after breaching bail. The accused, meanwhile, had a documented history with mental health services.

Fitzpatrick's father spoke out in an emotional interview, expressing his grief and frustration over the circumstances surrounding his son's death. He revealed that Fitzpatrick had been jailed after breaching the conditions of a restraining order but was eventually released and spent two weeks in a mental health facility. During that time, his medication was adjusted, and he was said to be making progress. However, he breached his conditions again, leading to his arrest and subsequent transfer to Mt Eden.

Fitzpatrick's father criticized the prison system, stating, “It was a complete failure of the duty of care to my son.” He described his son as a “good sportsman” who struggled to maintain employment later in life due to his mental health. Despite his struggles, he believed that with the right treatment, his son could have improved.

This incident is the second such tragedy at Mt Eden in less than a year. In September 2024, Andrew Chan Chui died in similar circumstances, with a 23-year-old cellmate charged with his murder. The repeated incidents have raised serious concerns about the safety and mental health support within the prison system.

Local advocates and mental health professionals are calling for a thorough investigation into the conditions at Mt Eden and the handling of inmates with mental health issues. They argue that the system is ill-equipped to manage such cases, putting both inmates and staff at risk.

As the case moves through the courts, families, legal experts, and mental health advocates are watching closely, hoping for reforms that will prevent further tragedies and ensure the dignity and safety of all those within the corrections system.