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Crowdfunder
Help prevent further avoidable death by suicide
Matty Sheldrick, with their dog Lola.
Content Note for Suicide, nature of suicide, death.
Matty Sheldrick
Matty Sheldrick was a beloved family member; a creative with a kind and gentle soul and a passion for social justice. In 2021 they moved to Brighton and Hove, in a quest to find comfort and community amongst a thriving music and arts scene.
On the night of 4 th November 2022, Matty hung themself just steps from the entrance of Royal Sussex County Hospital A&E department. Matty died from their injuries a few weeks later, aged 29, in the very place they had gone to seek safety.
Hours before Matty hung themself, medical professionals had decided not to detain Matty for treatment under the Mental Health Act – despite having had contact with Matty through months of turmoil, which included a suicide attempt in the hospital toilets earlier that day.
An inquest into Matty’s death later this year will explore what happened to them.
The inquest
When someone dies by suspected suicide, a Coroner holds an inquest to establish how, where and when the person died. In cases where a public body had obligations relevant to the person’s death, the inquest may become an “Article 2” inquest, which will look more widely at the circumstances of the person’s death.
The outcome
The Clare Project wants an “Article 2” inquest to be held so that the circumstances of Matty’s death are properly explored and understood, and their loved ones get answers.
The Clare Project also hopes that the Coroner will issue a “report to prevent future deaths”, to try to prevent other people from being failed in the ways Matty was.
Details
The Clare Project is Sussex’s community-led support charity for trans, non-binary and intersex adults. Matty was a regular attendee and commissioned designer for the charity. Alongside Matty’s family and friends, The Clare Project’s team made relentless efforts to get Matty the help they needed.
The Clare Project has been granted “interested person” status in the inquest. This means they will be able to see the documents and witness statements that the Coroner will consider, as well as putting forward its own evidence and questioning witnesses.
The Clare Project have instructed Good Law Practice, an independent law firm supported by Good Law Project. The Practice has offered to act on rates equivalent to “legal aid” rates, which constitute a discount of approximately 75% on its full rates for a senior lawyer. They have also instructed Sophie Walker, a barrister at One Pump Court, who has generously agreed to act pro bono.
Good Law Project is also providing support by running this crowdfunder.
Ultimately, The Clare Project wouldn’t be able to fight Matty’s corner without this wealth of experience and support.
Any surplus funds raised will be used by The Clare Project to support its other charitable work.
If you are struggling, please consider contacting one of the following organisations:
Papyrus: support for young people
Hopeline: 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans:
Phone: 116 123
Crowdfunder Updates
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09/07/2024
The inquest began – but it’s been adjourned
Matty’s inquest opened on 1 July 2024. Over the first two days, the Coroner heard a statement from Matty’s mum, and evidence from Matty’s GP, which highlighted the gaps in provision for people in mental health crisis. The Coroner also began hearing evidence from the professionals involved in the Mental Health Act assessment on 4 November 2022, which led to a decision not to detain Matty in hospital shortly before they hung themself.
Having heard the evidence, the Coroner considered that one of the witnesses needed the opportunity to take legal advice, and unfortunately the inquest had to be adjourned to facilitate that.
A further pre-inquest review hearing will be held on 27 August 2024. The inquest will then conclude in the weeks commencing 24 November and 9 December 2024.
The Clare Project continues to instruct Good Law Practice, alongside Sophie Walker and Liam Evans of One Pump Court.
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03/06/2024
Following a pre-inquest review hearing on 29 May, it has been confirmed that Matty's inquest will be held on 1–9 July 2024.
The Clare Project now has permission to file a more detailed witness statement in advance of the inquest, setting out both the events leading up to Matty’s death in November 2022 and – crucially – Matty’s struggles to access appropriate health and social care support from early 2022, which contributed to the deterioration of their mental health. The Clare Project will also give oral evidence at the hearing.
The Coroner will wait until she has heard all of the evidence before deciding whether this is an “Article 2” inquest – that is, an inquest involving an arguable breach of the state’s obligation to protect the right to life in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. She will conduct an Article 2 compliant inquest in the meantime, however, meaning that the inquest will be able to delve more broadly than it otherwise would have into the broader circumstances of Matty’s death.
The Clare Project continues to instruct Good Law Practice and Sophie Walker of One Pump Court.