We feel vindicated by the jury's conclusions and the multiple failings found

FAMILY REACT TO AXE DEATH UNLAWFUL KILLING CONCLUSION

- CHRIS SLATER

THE family of a man killed in an axe attack by his mentally ill cousin say they feel ‘vindicated’ after an inquest jury ruled multiple ‘failings’ by police and mental health services probably contributed to his death.

And the loved ones of Ryan Lowry have called on the agencies to ‘take the opportunities to accept and resolve these issues’ in a bid to prevent ‘future avoidable deaths.’

Mr Lowry, 36, was chased down the street before being struck 13 times with an axe by tree surgeon Ashley Glennon on Moss Lane in Partington, Trafford. Emergency services raced to the scene near Mr Glennon’s home. However married car enthusiast and foster parent Mr Lowry, who was born in Urmston but lived in Marple, Stockport, was declared dead at the scene just after midnight in the early hours of February 28, 2020.

Mr Glennon, also known as Ashley Rowen, who the crown court heard had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was detained under the Mental Health Act.

Originally charged with murder, the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. And, in January 2021, he was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.

For the past fortnight, an inquest into Mr Lowry’s death at Stockport Coroners Court has been hearing evidence regarding the care and supervision of Mr Glennon by agencies including the Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) NHS Trust and Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

The inquest heard Mr Glennon had been sectioned twice before including in 2019 when he attacked his elderly grandfather and left him with a bleed on the brain.