A secret health service report into the into the horrific killing of a former nurse by a mentally ill man has found that his death "could have prevented".
James Hughes (62), a "peace loving" practising Buddhist, was stabbed to death in 2016 in his Divis Tower flat in west Belfast by his neighbour, paranoid schizophrenic James Devine.
Days before the killing on November 5, it is understood Devine - who had a criminal record for violent offending - telephoned health authorities saying he was going to kill someone and needed an urgent appointment.
Last month The Irish News revealed a second high-level investigation has been ordered by the Belfast health trust into the tragedy due to major failings in the initial one - which was kept hidden from the victim's family.
Trust officials initially refused to provide a copy of its botched original review to the siblings of Mr Hughes.
However, after repeated requests from a politician acting on their behalf, Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey, a heavily redacted version was supplied.
Belfast trust has now accepted that the Hughes family should have been consulted in the original report. In a statement given to The Irish News, they also "recognised" the contents of the confidential probe made for "very difficult reading".
"We offer them our sincerest sympathies and will take every opportunity to communicate with them in the future," a spokesman said.
"We recognised that the report would be redacted to comply with legislation and we took steps to prepare the family for this. We will continue to liaise with the family privately."
Known as a level 3 Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) report, more than half of the original review's 23 pages are omitted, while the name of its lead author or "independent chair" is also blanked out.
A litany of failings are outlined in relation to trust breaches of vital policies and guidance for managing mentally ill "at risk" people, including:
- Breaches of "risk management" and assessment of vulnerable patients
- Failings in management of patient with severe mental illness and "co-existing" addiction problems
- Treatment/care plan for patient with psychosis and schizophrenia "not adhered to"
- Adult safeguarding policies set down by Department of Health "not adhered to"
Crucially, the redacted SAI concludes:
"A number of service delivery and care delivery issues have been identified. It is probable this incident could have been prevented."
Mickey Hughes, a brother of the late James Hughes, said that the contents of the hidden report confirmed what they had always suspected but still made for "shocking" reading.
He said the trust's "diabolical" handling of their case had compounded their grief.
"Given all that has happened nothing surprises us but we are shocked that the report made such findings which were being totally concealed from us. We are angry and deeply hurt to read that our James's death could have been prevented. A new inquiry must establish the truth and hold this system to account," Mr Hughes said.
He described his brother as a "super human being".
"James was always charitable, always trying to help people...I can honestly say he never laid a hand on anyone in his life, he must have seen some good in James Devine," he said.
Mr Hughes and his sister Veronica - who described James as her "soulmate from childhood" - say they both believe that their brother and his killer were "victims" of the system.
Devine (44) who was originally from Ballymoney, had 66 previous convictions, many of them for violent attacks. He received a minimum eight-year jail sentence last September for the manslaughter of Mr Hughes.
Last month, the Hughes family attended a meeting with trust officials arranged by Alex Maskey to find out about the Terms of Reference for the fresh SAI as well as the make up of the new review team.
However, despite being commissioned by the trust this summer, the first meeting will not take place with the new independent investigators until December.
Mr Maskey said the trust's treatment of the family had been "shameful" and also raised concerns about draft terms of reference for the new review, which he described as "basic".
"There is a lack of faith in the trust's ability to carry this forward with integrity due to what has happened," he said.
"Remember, the first review was held and the family were never informed it took place, they were never involved in it in any shape or form and they were never given any conclusions. So they were completely in the dark, the outcome of the first report was dragged out of the trust.
"It's clear that trust never intended to give that report to the Hughes family and that it would have remained under wraps only for their diligence and persistence in trying to establish not just the facts, but to ensure that lessons can be learned.
"Mr Devine was a habitual offender with a diagnosed mental health condition. According to report, even though it is heavily redacted, it clearly states that none of those key health policies and guidance for managing offenders were adhered to. That's a shocking admission which led to a shocking conclusion that this death was preventable."
The Sinn Féin MLA said they were consulting a lawyer to ensure the full contents of the report are shared with them to determine "what went wrong" and to discuss the possibility of an inquest.
"The lack of information puts the family at an awful disadvantage, they're supposed to have confidence going in to talk to a new SAI team who have more information about their brother's killing than they do.
"That cannot be acceptable."
