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Family of slain inmate Mark Pollard plan to sue Port Phillip Prison operators G4S

The family of Mark Pollard - stomped and bashed to death inside Melbourne’s Port Phillip Prison - say more should have been done to protect him. Now they plan to take the jail’s private operators to court.

Port Phillip Prison. Picture: David Caird
Port Phillip Prison. Picture: David Caird

The family of jailhouse murder victim Mark Pollard has briefed lawyers on legal action against prison operators.

Pollard was bashed and stomped to death in a vicious attack inside the privately-run Port Phillip Prison earlier this month.

His sister Amanda said relatives were looking at suing jail operator G4S for failing its duty of care and want an independent review of the jail.

The family believes prison authorities should have worked out that he was severely injured hours before they took action and got him medical attention.

Pollard was beaten and stomped to death in a brutal attack that is now the subject of a homicide squad investigation.

Mark Pollard died after being assaulted in Port Phillip Prison.
Mark Pollard died after being assaulted in Port Phillip Prison.
Mark was a tortured soul but never a violent criminal, Amanda Pollard said.
Mark was a tortured soul but never a violent criminal, Amanda Pollard said.

It is believed a gang of thugs wanted his ring and sneakers, possibly to use as currency to buy drugs.

Pollard was buried at Fawkner Cemetery last week in a small service attended by family and friends from his school days at St Bede’s College in Mentone.

“Mark was a tortured soul but never a violent criminal,” his sister said.

“Just because he has horn tattoos and was in prison … he still deserves justice.”

His death came after a long catalogue of incidents at the Truganina jail, 24km west of Melbourne CBD.

A cell inside Port Phillip Prison. Picture: David Caird
A cell inside Port Phillip Prison. Picture: David Caird
Mark Pollard’s family is considering suing the prison’s operator. Picture: David Caird
Mark Pollard’s family is considering suing the prison’s operator. Picture: David Caird

They include an escape attempt using contraband in August, two cell fires in October, the stabbing of a staff member last month and a roof invasion soon after.

A recently released inmate has told how violent inmates extorted $75,000 from him in a jailhouse terror campaign.

The victim – a convicted criminal doing a short sentence – said dangerous inmates bled the money from him over a period of months.

He said he was given names and account numbers to make a series of dozens of deposits, via a contact on the outside.

The inmate, who is confined to a wheelchair and has since been freed, said four prisoners menaced him over a period of months as they siphoned away the money.

“It’s hard to believe this sort of stuff can go on in this day and age,” he said.

“One of them told me he’d f … up my ugly disabled head. What they did, I’ll never forget.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts/family-of-slain-inmate-mark-pollard-plan-to-sue-port-phillip-prison-operators-g4s/news-story/9e3ad8f6277a7adf382481f29624268b