Inquest investigates suicide of convicted child rapist Rickie Barron at Risdon Prison

A Hobart inquest is looking into the suicide of convicted child rapist Rickie Barron, who died while serving a lengthy prison sentence at Risdon Prison. DETAILS >

Risdon Prison's minimum security Ron Barwick unit. Picture: Department of Justice website

An inquest has opened into the death of a convicted child rapist, who suicided while serving a lengthy jail term at Risdon Prison last year.

On Thursday, Tasmania’s Coronial Division heard Rickie Underwood Barron became “like a caged animal” and was “losing the plot” in the months leading up to his death.

The 61-year-old, who suffered chronic pain and Crohn’s disease, had complained he wasn’t getting any medication and didn’t have “anyone to talk to”.

Barron was about two years into a sentence of 13-and-a-half years, with a non-parole period of seven years, over four sexual offences, including rape, against young girls when he died.

Coroner Simon Cooper heard he was found dead in a double cell in Risdon’s minimum security Ron Barwick unit on January 11, 2022.

Risdon Prison's minimum security Ron Barwick unit. Picture: Department of Justice website

His wife Natasha Barron said she didn’t believe he had any mental health problems before he went into prison, but was “just broken” afterwards, and had been “upset at the things being said about him” during the trial.

She said he would go through “weeks of hell”, and she expected he’d kill himself behind bars.

“I thought he was going crazy and I didn’t think he could cope,” she said.

Mrs Barron said before his death, the couple had phone conversations about her being lonely, and thinking about moving on.

“I never thought that I would ever want or need or love anyone else, but then it hit me,” she said.

“I felt so alone and it was horrible. I thought now is my opportunity to tell him how I feel, and the worst that will happen is he’ll hang up on me.

“I just wished I hadn’t said anything to him.”

Mrs Barron said he wasn’t getting his medication and “didn’t have anyone to talk to”, but described the Risdon Prison staff as “amazing”.

She said her husband told her not to tell prison staff about her concerns he could attempt suicide.

“He said if I told anybody, it would make his life in there hell.”

Ian Thomas, director of Tasmania Prison Service, said all prisoners were assessed for their risk of self-harm.

He said a management plan would then be developed with mental health nurses, and a psychiatrist, “if they’re available”.

Mr Thomas said Barron had not been identified as a suicide risk.

Mr Cooper will hand down his findings at a date to be determined.

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Originally published as Inquest investigates suicide of convicted child rapist Rickie Barron at Risdon Prison