Information lacking in Hennessey-Campbell case, hears inquest

A family violence prevention worker and the manager of P.E.I.'s victim services, both testifying at the inquest into the deaths of Patricia Hennessey and her son Nash Campbell, say they felt they often had only a small piece of the puzzle in the complicated family situation.

The coroner's inquest into the murder-suicide of Hennessey and four-year-old Nash continued Tuesday afternoon in Summerside.

Their bodies were found in a burned-out vehicle in St. Felix, near Tignish in June 2013.

Everybody here thought they were being a voice for the child and acting in his best interests.- Susan Maynard

The two women were involved with Hennessey and Nash's father Marc Campbell for several years, and they agree better sharing of information in situations such as this could help resolve other disputes.

Gloria Dennis, who works in family violence prevention with Anderson House, said she gave Hennessey information on legal aid, family violence prevention and two-home parenting.

When asked by the Crown if she had any suggestions for improvements in these situations, Dennis said, "sharing of information is key."

Harm to child risk overrides privacy: coroner

Susan Maynard, the province's manager of victim services, said, looking back, no one predicted harm would come to Nash.

Maynard said her staff were not aware Hennessey had threatened two years earlier to take Nash's life and her own.

Family court, legal aid, the justice system and victim services were all involved in the family dispute, says Maynard, adding that all groups were working together and communicating to the best of their ability.

"Everybody here thought they were being a voice for the child and acting in his best interests," she said.

Legislation would need to change for high-risk or complicated domestic violence cases to allow more sharing of information without clients' permission, said Maynard.

Cindy Wedge, the head of Crown prosecutions, also testified Tuesday, saying information sharing by different agencies wouldn't be possible without changes to privacy legislation. Then a provincial information "hub" would have to be established.

Prince County coroner Dr. Roy Montgomery, who is presiding over the inquest, told the six-member jury that anyone in the health, justice or education systems who suspects risk of harm to a child must report it.

That overrides any privacy issues, said Montgomery.

Campbell gets sole custody

Susan Maynard said Hennessey and Campbell entered into a voluntary agreement over visitation with Nash in December 2010. Hennessey wanted to drop a criminal assault charge against Campbell because she felt "victimized" by questioning in court. The charge was later stayed.

Hennessey had "a lot of ups and downs" going back and forth about getting back together with Campbell, said Maynard.

Then, in January 2013, Hennessey found out that Campbell wanted sole custody of Nash, said Maynard, and victim services was in almost "daily contact" with Hennessey.

Hennessey ignored advice from her lawyer, and victim services, and refused to let Campbell see Nash for months, saying it was "in his best interests."

Victim services asked the RCMP to create a report on all the calls to police by Hennessey and Campbell to create a full picture of the domestic dispute for child protection; up to that point, victim services said, they had only Hennessey's side.

The department also suggested a third party be involved during Nash's drop-offs and pick-ups to limit the contact between his parents.

It came to a head on June 20, 2013, the date they went to a family court hearing over custody of Nash.

By the time they finished, it was after 6 p.m.

Instead of splitting custody, 50-50, as it was before the hearing, the judge awarded Marc Campbell sole custody and Hennessey was only allowed visits.

Less than 12 hours later, the bodies of Nash and his mother were found in a burned-out vehicle in West Prince.

Domestic violence court

Both Susan Maynard and Dr. Susan Stewart, the psychiatrist involved in treating Hennessey who testified earlier Tuesday, suggested appointing an advocate to represent the child in future custody cases.

When the Crown asked Maynard about using a centre to act as go-between for handover of children from parent to parent to help avoid conflict, she said a neutral location would be a good idea.

The Crown also asked if having a single family court would help. Maynard said anything to allow a judge to get a "full picture" of a family situation would be good idea.

Maynard told the inquest that there have been talks over setting up a domestic violence court for years, but so far nothing has happened.

As far as she knows, Maynard said the system is not using a standardized risk assessment in domestic violence cases to identify those who are high-risk.

However, she said, the P.E.I. court has set up registry of court orders that now allows police and those connected to court to access records, enabling those involved with complaints to see whether court orders are current and the conditions contained in them.

Last call to child protection department

On Tuesday afternoon, the province's director of child protection Wendy McCourt, took the stand.

She says her department's involvement with the family began in Jan 2010 when the couple separated and police received a call about the two arguing in a parking lot with Nash present.

McCourt then detailed to the court numerous reports to her department over the next few years.

The department found Nash to be in need of protection after Hennessey was charged with impaired driving in March 2011.

Police found Nash at home, alone, with the door unlocked that night.

That night of her arrest was the same night Hennessey threatened to kill herself and Nash, because of what police had done.

Over the next couple of years, there was other involvement by child protection, due to allegations made by one parent against the other, charges of assault, Hennessey's suicide attempt in May 2011, and investigations into all those incidents.

McCourt said after Hennessey's suicide attempt  she was treated for mental health issues and alcohol abuse, and Nash was returned to hear care.

But the department continued to be involved with the family.

The department received its last call about concern over Nash's safety on June 21, 2013. The caller was concerned that Hennessey had taken off, was worried about her mental state, and referenced Hennessey's threats to harm herself and her son, two years earlier.

But, by the time staff got the message later that day, Nash and his mother were already dead.

The inquest continues Wednesday.