View source for Harold Shipman

==Death==
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Shipman [[suicide by hanging|hanged<!--the word "hanged" is correct in this context--> himself]] in his cell at [[HM Prison Wakefield]] on 13 January 2004, the day before his 58th birthday.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/harold-shipman-timed-suicide-to-ensure-his-wife-got-ps100k-pension-pay-out-a6943316.html |title=Harold Shipman timed suicide to ensure his wife got £100k pension pay out |last= Mortimer |first=Caroline |date=20 March 2016 |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=13 January 2023 |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3391871.stm|date=13 January 2004|title=Harold Shipman found dead in cell|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}}</ref> The Medico Legal Centre in Sheffield performed a [[post-mortem]] examination, and an [[inquest]] was opened.<ref name="shipman-finally-cremated">{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/shipman-finally-cremated-1064483 |title=Shipman finally cremated|work= Manchester Evening News|date= 30 June 2005|access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>

Some of the victims' families said they felt "cheated", as Shipman's suicide meant they would never have the satisfaction of a [[confession]], nor answers as to why he committed his crimes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/3392135.stm|date=13 January 2004|work=BBC News|title=No mourning from Shipman families}}</ref> Home Secretary David Blunkett admitted that celebration was tempting: "You wake up and you receive a phone call – Shipman's topped himself. You have just got to think for a minute: is it too early to open a bottle? And then you discover that everybody's very upset that he's done it."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3404041.stm|title=Blunkett admits Shipman error|date=16 January 2004 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

Shipman's death divided national newspapers, with the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' branding him a "cold coward" and condemning the Prison Service for allowing his suicide to occur. However, ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' ran a celebratory front-page headline; "Ship Ship hooray!"<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hattenstone|first1=Simon|title=Is it the Sun that's gone bonkers?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/jan/19/sun.mondaymediasection|access-date=2 August 2016|work=The Guardian|date=19 January 2004}}</ref> ''[[The Independent]]'' called for the inquiry into Shipman's suicide to look more widely at the state of UK prisons as well as the welfare of inmates. In ''[[The Guardian]]'', an article by [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[David Ramsbotham, Baron Ramsbotham|Sir David Ramsbotham]], who had formerly served as [[Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons]], suggested that whole-life sentencing be replaced by [[indefinite sentencing]], for this would at least give prisoners the hope of eventual release and reduce the risk of their ending their own lives by suicide, as well as making their management easier for prison officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3395065.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]]|title=Shipman's death divides papers |date=14 January 2004|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-date=11 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911035800/https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3395065.stm}}</ref>

Shipman's motive for suicide was never established, though he reportedly told his [[probation officer]] that he was considering suicide to assure his wife's financial security after he was stripped of his [[National Health Service]] [[NHS Pension Scheme|pension]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3611019.stm|date=8 April 2004|title=Shipman leaves his wife £24,000|work=BBC News}}</ref> Primrose Shipman received a full NHS pension that she would not have been entitled to if Shipman had lived past the age of 60.<ref name="Not preventable">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4182730.stm|title=Shipman suicide 'not preventable'|work=BBC News|date=25 August 2005 |access-date=4 May 2010}}</ref> Additionally, there was evidence that Primrose, who had consistently protested Shipman's innocence despite the overwhelming evidence, had begun to suspect his guilt. Shipman refused to take part in courses which would have encouraged acknowledgement of his crimes, leading to a temporary removal of privileges, including the right to telephone his wife.<ref name="Not preventable"/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3391871.stm | work=BBC News | title=Harold Shipman found dead in cell | date=13 January 2004 | access-date=4 May 2010}}</ref> During this period, according to Shipman's cellmate, he received a letter from Primrose exhorting him to "Tell me everything, no matter what."<ref name="Sweet2004"/> A 2005 inquiry found that Shipman's suicide "could not have been predicted or prevented", but that procedures should nonetheless be re-examined.<ref name="Not preventable"/>

After Shipman's body was released to his family, it remained in [[Sheffield]] for more than a year. His widow was advised by police against burying him in case the grave was attacked; the body was eventually [[cremated]] at [[Abbey Lane Cemetery|Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium]], in the city,<ref name="shipman-finally-cremated"/> attended only by Shipman's widow and the couple's four children.<ref name="killer-finally-cremated">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3484824.stm |title=Serial killer Shipman cremated |work=BBC News|date=8 April 2005|access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>