Silverwater jail inmate charged with murder after cellmate found dead

The family of a prisoner allegedly murdered by his cellmate last night are furious, saying he was left for an hour before anyone realised he needed help.

The family of a prisoner allegedly murdered by his cellmate last night are furious, saying he was left for an hour before anyone realised he needed help.

Ryan Fennell’s cousin Skye Revell told The Daily Telegraph the 39-year-old who suffered schizophrenia weighed just 40kg.

“He was 40 kilos, he has mental health issue that are recorded, there’s complete access to those,” Ms Revell said.

The family was distraught at the level of angst Mr Fennell may have suffered in his final moments.

Matthew Macguire didn’t appear in court this morning after being charged with murder.

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“Our concern is the state of his health, how frightened he was. It was their duty of care to look after him and how could something so irresponsible have taken place.

“And why was he lying there an hour before he got help in a safe cell which should have been fully monitored?”

Ms Revell said the family were only notified of the death at 4am this morning.

Court documents show Mr Fennell was serving time after a number of assault charges.

He was allegedly attacked by 35-year-old cellmate Matthew Macguire inside Silverwater Correctional Centre between 6.25pm and 7.25pm last night.

Correctives officers and nurses attempted CPR on 39-year-old Fennell but he couldn’t be revived.

Macguire did not appear on screen at Burwood Local Court today when his charge of murder was adjourned to June 5.

Detectives from Auburn Police Area Command and Corrective Services established a crime scene at the prison, arresting Macguire and later charging him with murder.

The Daily Telegraph understands Macguire was classified as a protected inmate and both men were being held in the facility’s Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre.

Court documents allege Macguire murdered Ryan Fennell between 6.25pm and 7.25pm last night with Corrective Services NSW confirming it was already investigating the response times of prison staff and the backgrounds of the inmates involved.

“Corrective Services NSW deeply regrets the death of a 39-year-old-man at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre and extends its deepest sympathy to loved ones,” a CSNSW statement said.

“Every aspect of the incident, including management and placement of the inmates involved, response times and action, will be thoroughly reviewed and any necessary action will be swiftly taken.

“It would be premature to speculate on what led to the incident until all the facts are thoroughly investigated and reviewed.”