ADAM RICKWOOD was 14 years old when he was found hanging at Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, near Medomsley, County Durham, seven years ago.

The records show him to be the youngest person to die in a British penal institution in modern times, and his death is still the subject of intense scrutiny and national attention.

A second, lengthy inquest into the tragedy began yesterday after the High Court ruled that an initial month-long hearing in 2007 had failed to provide the jury with vital information.

Assistant Deputy Coroner Jeremy Freedman yesterday told the inquest panel of five women and four men that the latest hearing would be a wide-ranging inquiry. Indeed it must.

This is a case which is truly heartbreaking because of the young life that was lost.

Adam’s years were blighted by problems, but he was a mere child who was let down by systematic failures in the system.

We can only imagine what it must be like for his loved ones to have to again endure examining the heartbreaking details of his death, seven years on.

But it is right that the gaps in information from the first inquest are filled in and that lessons are learned about the treatment of young offenders.

It is because the first inquest fell short that the second must go further than would normally be expected.

It remains regrettable, however, that it has taken so long to reach this point.