Francis Hoar represented the local authority at the inquest into the death of Eileen Dean. Mrs Dean had been killed by another resident at the care home where she lived.
Her family were critical of the local authority's social services - as well as the care home and the local NHS Trust: the two had cared for the killer before he was placed in the care home.
Both participated in the 2-week jury inquest as 'interested parties'.
Originally this had been an Article 2 inquest. However the coroner accepted the submissions of the local authority and other interested parties, made after all witnesses had given evidence, that the evidence did not establish that the ‘operational duty’ of the state was not engaged.
Jury conclusion
The jury reached a narrative conclusion which recorded that the local authority had not been passed information about risks posed by the other resident before he was placed in the care home. The judge accepted Francis’s submissions and did not put a conclusion of unlawful killing to the jury.
Prevention of future deaths report
The coroner is still considering evidence and submissions about the prevention of future deaths report he will publish.