SA: Inmate sues state over prison food

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-1999
SA: Inmate sues state over prison food

By Valkerie Mangnall

ADELAIDE, April 20 AAP - A prisoner who says he bit into a syringe needle while eating a
salad roll prepared for his lunch is seeking $40,000 damages from the South Australian
government.

Darrin Barker claims he suffered a needle stick injury when he bit into the roll at the
Yatala Labour Prison, in Adelaide's north, while he was an inmate there in 1995.

Barker, who is now in Mobilong Prison, also alleges that he found some wire, a human
toenail and hair in food served to him by the kitchen at Yatala.

In a statement of claim filed in the District Court, Barker alleged that at about 11.30am
on July 26, 1995, he picked up a salad roll wrapped in plastic wrap for his lunch.

He said that when he bit into the roll, he felt two sharp jabs in the roof of his mouth.

The statement said Barker spat out the food and pulled out a needle of a syringe which was
stuck in the roof of his mouth.

Barker became anxious that he may have contracted AIDS and asked for a blood test.

"As a result of the needle stick injury, the plaintiff was unable to eat prepared meals
from the prison kitchen and embarked on a diet of cereal only," the statement said.

Barker claims he suffered and continues to suffer an eating disorder and adjustment
disorder with depressed mood and significant weight loss and that even when he was transferred
to Berrimah Prison in the Northern Territory, he remained unable to eat food prepared by the
prison kitchen.

He also claims he suffered and continues to suffer a loss of enjoyment of life.

Barker is claiming that the injury was a result of negligence, saying the state of South
Australia failed to supervise food preparation in Yatala, failed to properly investigate a
previous incident where he reported finding wire in his food and failed to implement
procedures to ensure needles were not placed in his food.

In a statement of defence, the state denies that the needle incident took place and denies
each allegation of negligence.

But the state admitted that Barker presented a needle to prison officers and that a blood
test was performed.

The state says that if Barker did sustain injury, loss and damage (which is denied) then he
has sufficiently recovered or, if he does suffer pain and suffering and/or loss of amenities,
it is minimal and does not preclude him from resuming his pre-incident activities.

The state says Barker does not require medical or other treatment and denies that he is
entitled to any damages.

AAP vm/sn/was/de

KEYWORD: NEEDLE

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.