Patricia Hennessey-Nash Campbell coroner inquest resumes

There was no advance indication of a high-risk situation prior to the deaths of Patricia Hennessey and her four-year-old son Nash Campbell, says Wendy McCourt,  P.E.I.'s director of child protection.

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McCourt was testifying Wednesday morning at the coroner's inquest into the June 2013 deaths. Hennessey and her son died in a vehicle fire in St. Felix near Tignish. The deaths were found to be a murder-suicide.

McCourt said reports from child protection staff were that there were no problems with either parent individually. Problems arose when the two parents were together. She told the inquest that while in hindsight the outcome was tragic, she has seen much worse circumstances than what was happening with Patricia Hennessey in advance of the deaths.

Child protection services first became involved with the family in January 2010, and worked with the family regularly up until the Hennessey and her son died.

McCourt told the inquest, a child doesn't have to be a direct victim of a domestic violence for her department to be involved. She said witnessing physical, emotional or verbal abuse can have a serious impact on children.

If a child is in need of protection, her staff can remove the child from the home, but she said it's a last resort.

"[It can be] very traumatic for a child to be taken away from parents," she said.

Child protection services staff try to explore other options first, including having another family member care for the child while the parent is getting help.

McCourt faced numerous questions from the jurors and also from Nash Campbell's grandmother, Bernadette Campbell.

She said she raised concerns with child protection services but her call was not returned.  McCourt responded investigations can get information from other sources in some instances, such as the police.

Lack of communication

Witnesses testifying earlier in the inquest, which began Monday, expressed their frustration with the lack of communication between the various agencies involved with the family.

Prince County coroner Dr. Roy Montgomery noted for the six-member jury that anyone who suspects risk of harm to a child must report it, because that overrides any privacy concerns.

Susan Maynard, the provincial manager of victim services, said looking back no one had predicted harm would come to Nash Campbell.