Alice Anne McMeekin · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 19th day of June 2013, I commenced an investigation into the death of Alice Anne McMeekin – 58 years of age. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22nd May 2015. The conclusion of the inquest
Cause of death: 1a) Head Injuries
Conclusion: Unlawfully killed

At about 8.00hrs on the 8th June 2013 at Newton Street, Millom, Cumbria, the deceased was attacked by a male living at that address. He struck her repeatedly about the head with a hatchet as a result of which she sustained fatal head injuries. Two days prior to this incident the perpetrator had attempted suicide and had been taken to hospital.
There he was assessed as at zero risk to himself or others. On the balance of probability the perpetrator was suffered from a recognised mental disorder at the time of the attack.

1.The Police
The evidence revealed that on the 6th June 2013 the perpetrator made remarks to a member of the public to the effect that he “would not kill his mother”. This information was passed to the Officers who attended the area. Some 2 hours later the same officers attended a call about a man behaving strangely and covered in blood. An ambulance was called.
The officers had not spoken to the original caller, who subsequently gave evidence that the remarks were that the perpetrator said he “would kill his mother”.
“Common sense” told the officers that the person was one and the same and they did a welfare check on his mother.

At no stage did they question the perpetrator about his originally reported remarks. Also, citing confidentiality they did not pass those remarks onto the Ambulance Team. This meant that when later seen by psychiatric nurse the latter was in ignorance of this significant statement. It is possible that had the nurse been aware this may have altered the outcome of the perpetrator’s initial assessment and how he was dealt with.

2.The Partnership Trust
The Coroner concluded that the evidence at the inquest showed that the perpetrator was suffering from a mental disorder when he tried to kill himself on the 6th June 2013. Whilst the psychiatric nurse that day did not have all the information which was available at the inquest he had information to show that perpetrator had a history of self-harm, unemployment, family stressors, multiple and complex drug misuse, quasi-incestuous sexual feelings, past sex abuse, hopelessness, low mood and serious suicide attempt that day.

3.Not withstanding the above the nurse decided that the perpetrator was of zero risk and was not suffering from a mental disorder. He was discharged with the only potential follow up being talking therapy which would not commence, if it ever did, some weeks hence. The evidence at inquest shows that this was a very disturbed young man having intended to kill himself 6 hours earlier and who remained a risk to himself. Whilst the information known to the nurse at the time the tragic outcome could not have been anticipated, there was an opportunity to render care, which could, as a consequence have made a difference.
It is a concern that the two assessments after the killings also concluded the perpetrator was not suffering from a mental disorder.