The family of a young mum who was stabbed to death by her ex-partner in a horrific murder-suicide have hit out at delays to her inquest - which have left them still waiting for answers nearly four years on from her death.
Regan Tierney, 27, was found dead by her father at her home in Salford in June 2019. Her former partner Daniel Patten, 31, was found with critical injuries at the address following her death and died two days later. Police said they were treating the tragedy as a murder-suicide following the pair's ten-year relationship, during which Regan was subject to coercive and controlling behaviour, intimidation, verbal abuse, physical violence and threats, at the hands of Patten.
At a pre-inquest review at Bolton Coroner's Court on Friday (May 19), a representative for Regan's family said they had 'immense frustration' at the delays which have plagued her inquest.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
Opening the pre-inquest review, area coroner Peter Sigee apologised to the family, citing a lack of court resources as the reason for the wait.
He said the case had last been in court for a pre-inquest review in May 2022, and he 'regretted' that there had not been the 'progress there could and should have been'.
"I am sorry that we have not been able to make more progress with this inquest," he added.
Representing Regan's family, Emma-Louie Fenelon said: "On their behalf, I'd like to outline the immense frustration with the delay with this case. Regan has been dead for now almost four years and they have had no explanation of the delays.
"They have had to pause their grief until this legal process can be concluded."
A 2022 Domestic Homicide Review commissioned by Salford Community Safety Partnership found that just days before her death, Regan made a phone call to police reporting that Patten had threatened to 'put her head on a stick,' believing she was in danger.
But due to a three-day delay to record the report by GMP, by the time the force made contact with her, Miss Tierney had 'lost confidence' and decided not to take the matter further.
The report found that a number of opportunities were missed by services including GMP, GP practices, Bolton NHS FT services, Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation, and Salford Royal NHS Trust.
In a statement released following her death, her family called her a young woman with 'everything to live for'.
They said: "She was a loving mum who loved family life, she will be greatly missed by her two children and family.
"Regan was taken from our lives too soon. She was a beautiful daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, and an amazing mother. We will forever cherish the memories."
Coroner Sigee set the next pre-inquest review for September 6.
READ NEXT:
- 'I felt so vulnerable...' gang bundled young men into back of Audi before subjecting them to horrible ordeal
- 'I thought my baby just had a bug - but he was on the brink of death'
- 'It blew my mind how bad it was': Woman slams 'farcical' Arena gig seating
- Bloodshed on the streets as neighbourhood rocked by 'double stabbing'
- CCTV released after man targeted in alleged racist hate crime at petrol station
