Ian Foster Delaney

Ian Foster Delaney, also known as Ian Davison, was a prominent neo-Nazi and leading member of the Aryan Strike Force (ASF), a group dedicated to using violence in pursuit of Adolf Hitler's ideology. In 2006 or early 2007, Delaney manufactured ricin, a highly toxic poison, at his home in Burnopfield, County Durham. The substance was discovered by police during a raid, stored in a jam jar, and was intended for use in terrorist acts, though no specific targets were identified.

Delaney's activities came to light through investigations into extremist groups. At Newcastle Crown Court, prosecutor Andrew Edis KC described Delaney as 'one step away from producing a terrorist event which could have been catastrophic'. The court heard that the ASF revered Hitler and aimed to perpetrate acts of terrorism aligned with their ideology. Delaney was sentenced to ten years in prison for producing a chemical weapon and terror offences. His son, Nicky Davison, was separately convicted of possessing materials useful for terrorism, including books on making bombs and explosives.

Released in 2014, Delaney breached his parole conditions, leading to his re-incarceration in 2024. This time, he faced charges for possessing child abuse images and cultivating cannabis. He was serving his sentence at HMP Frankland in Durham when he was found dead in his cell on 4 November 2025, at the age of 57.

An inquest opened by Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield at Crook Coroners Court on 3 February 2026 revealed the cause of death as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, confirmed by post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Nigel Cooper at Newcastle RVI Mortuary on 8 November 2025. The hearing was adjourned for a further mention on 24 March 2026. Detectives had previously noted the potential severity of Delaney's actions, emphasising the ricin's role in advancing the ASF's violent agenda.