Notorious killer Michael Fyfe ‘still in isolation’ despite promised confinement release

The nation’s longest-serving solitary confinement inmate remains segregated ‘without even a pencil’, a source has claimed, despite his promised release from isolation.

Australia’s longest serving solitary confinement prisoner remains in a single cell “without even a pencil”, despite a promised release from isolation.

Michael Barry Fyfe was released from Yatala Labour Prison’s G Division in February, after spending 28 years locked in his cell for upwards of 22 hours a day.

He was transferred to Port Augusta Prison as part of his rehabilitation regime and told he would be allowed to mix with the general population under the watchful eyes of prison guards.

But a source close to Fyfe has told The Advertiser that his integration has been halted, with the 61-year-old remaining separated from other prisoners.

They claimed Fyfe was being held in isolation at the prison in similar conditions to those he escaped at Yatala’s G Division.

“They told him he’d spend two weeks in the isolation unit when he arrived before integrating back into the mainstream population … but they haven’t let him out,” they said.

“He’s on the same restricted regime as before, he’s not even allowed a pencil and paper.

Convicted murderer Michael Barry Fyfe was transferred to Port Augusta Prison in February.

“One of the guards told him, ‘You’re not getting out of here’ … it’s a really bad situation, it’s just the same as before.”

The Corrections Department could not provide specific details regarding Fyfe’s conditions, but said he was subject to a “comprehensive transition plan” upon his transfer to Port Augusta Prison.

“Due to the complexities of this particular case, a very comprehensive transition plan was developed including input from clinicians to ensure a safe and gradual transition to Port Augusta Prison with oversight from a multidisciplinary case review team,” a spokesperson said.

“His positive progression remains gradual with safety of staff and other prisoners at the forefront.”

A cell inside Yatala Labour Prison’s G Division, where Michael Fyfe spent 28 years in solitary confinement.

Fyfe is serving a non-parole period of 45 years for violent offences, including murder, and has spent almost three decades in Yatala Labour Prison’s G Division – separated from the rest of the prison population.

In a series of stunning phone calls, Fyfe revealed he only expected to spend five years in solitary confinement after the murder of fellow prisoner, convicted rapist Anthony Trevor Tilley, in 1995.

Fyfe made repeated attempts to be released from G Division – with failed appeals to the Supreme Court in 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2007.