Brothers killed themselves in prison after ‘avenging’ their sibling’s murder

Two brothers took their own lives in prison following an 18 year-long wait to avenge their other sibling.

Stephen O’Rourke, 48, killed himself hours after a jury found him guilty of murdering Rocky Djelal, the man he held responsible for killing his younger brother Michael.

Another brother, Jason, collected Stephen’s bloodied clothes and took them to be washed following the killing in 2018.

They were both arrested two months later but Jason took his own life in HMP Belmarsh while awaiting trial charged with assisting an offender.

Michael O’Roarke was killed in August 2000 and Djelal was arrested as part of the investigation into the murder. He was later released without charge.

Nobody has ever been prosecuted over Michael’s death, and an inquest in June 2001 recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

By 2018 Stephen blamed Djelal for Michael’s murder and became convinced he was ‘messing with his head’.

Stephen disguised himself as a builder, wearing a high-vis jacket, and crept up behind Djelal before stabbing him in the back in Southwark Park, Bermondsey, south east London, in broad daylight.

The attack, which took place on October 31 2018, took place in broad daylight at a children’s play area on the 18th anniversary of Michael’s funeral.

Djelal, a father of one, had himself just been released from prison over the death of another man when he was attacked.

He and two others had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) following the mistaken identity murder of Christopher Foster in 2013.

After stabbing him in the back three times Stephen was seen casually walking away from the scene.

Djelal managed to stumble away, then collapsed over a fence into the play area, screaming: ‘Help me, help me, he has got a knife.’

Stephen was found dead in his cell at HMP Wandsworth hours after he was found guilty of murder.

He had a history of mental health problems and his sister warned staff at the prison he planned to kill himself after court.

An inquest into his death held at Inner West London Coroner’s Court on May 26 concluded prison failings contributed to his death.

Assistant Coroner Priya Malhotra concluded: ‘Mr O’Rourke’s death was due to suicide, following failings by HMP Wandsworth in the management of Mr O’Rourke’s heightened risks following conviction.’

Kimberley Bingham, of the Acting Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, said: ‘I am very concerned about the adequacy of arrangements to manage those at risk of suicide or self-harm in Wandsworth.

‘No individual took overall responsibility for managing Mr O’Rourke’s risk as a case manager.

‘It was well documented that the culmination of his trial was a potential trigger point for Mr O’Rourke’s safety.

‘Despite this, his risk to himself was not reviewed when he returned to prison after being convicted and prison staff did not consider whether he might need to be observed more frequently or require additional support.

‘There were also communication difficulties between the two healthcare departments when Mr O’Rourke transferred from High Down to Wandsworth.’

The MoJ said HMP Wandsworth accepted all the recommendations made by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and now operates a new management system for prisoners at risk of self-harm.

A Prison Service spokeswoman added: ‘HMP Wandsworth has accepted and implemented the Ombudsman’s recommendations and has seen an improved delivery of primary care and mental health services to support vulnerable prisoners.’

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