Disgraced clergyman jailed for sexually abusing young boys died of natural causes, coroner rules

Canon Terence Grigg, 84, died at Hull Royal Infirmary on August 26, 2018, from multiple organ failure, caused by a heart attack and underlying heart disease.

Concern was raised by the watchdog, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, about the care Grigg received at Hull Jail, and the decision to handcuff the “frail” inmate when he was taken to hospital in a wheelchair.

But coroner Prof Paul Marks, who also heard evidence from an independent cardiologist, found Grigg had been able to access healthcare promptly and “overall his care was of an acceptable standard within a prison setting”.

During the inquest Prof Marks said the use of “any restraint of any description” appeared “eminently wrong” in Grigg’s case.

But in his conclusion he said he was satisfied the issue had been addressed and assured there was “no ongoing system failure” at Hull Jail.

A jury at Hull Crown Court found the Rev Canon Terence Grigg, 84, guilty of 14 offences between the mid-1980s and early 1990s on August 9 2018.

During the trial jurors heard the ex-clergyman had “identified” his four victims, who were all vulnerable “in some way” and had used “that vulnerability for his own sexual gratification”.

The inquest had previously heard that the retired Rector of St Mary’s, Cottingham, died at Hull Royal Infirmary on August 26 2018 from multiple organ failure, caused by a heart attack and underlying heart disease.

Grigg, who had homes in North Yorkshire and Devon, had suffered a previous heart attack and had a pacemaker fitted.