Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Not only did they get Brian’s name wrong, they used the name of the murder accused
Mum of stab victim hits out at prosecutors’ letter blunder
THE mother of a stabbing victim has told of her anger after prosecutors wrote to express sympathy – but mistakenly referred to him as the man accused of his murder.
When Deana Kitson’s son Brian Burke was killed in East Belfast in April she said it felt like her whole world was collapsing around her.
But the mum of three from Bangor, Co Down, added she felt “like her heart had been torn out all over again” when the PPS wrote to send their condolences on “the death of Kenneth Cowan” – the man charged with murdering the 29-year-old.
Mrs Kitson told the Mirror: “It’s only now we can talk about those first few days after Brian died. We were numbed, in a state of shock.
“He died on April 8 and four days later we received a letter from the PPS outlining what was happening in the case. When I read, ‘I wish to extend my
BANGOR, CO DOWN, YESTERDAY
sincerest sympathy to you on the death of Kenneth Cowan’ I could barely believe my eyes. I just couldn’t believe they could be so careless and thoughtless.
“The letter went on to say, ‘I hope this doesn’t cause any further distress’ but they have no idea what their carelessness did to me and my family in our darkest hour.
“The very people who were supposed to be acting in our interests, who were meant to be fighting for justice for Brian couldn’t even get his name right.
“And not only did they get his name wrong, they used the name of the person accused of killing him instead. I can’t tell you how distressed it left us.
“What happened to Brian and our family has been dreadful but it’s been compounded by some of the treatment we have received by the people who should have been looking after us.
“If any good comes out of any of this, it will be no family’s grief will be made worse by the carelessness of those who should really ought to know better.”
A PPS spokesman said: “We apologise unreservedly for this deeply regrettable error and for the distress it has caused to the family of Brian Burke.
“The PPS is fully committed to providing a high-quality service to victims and their families. We have fallen short of our own standards on this occasion and we take this very seriously.
“A senior public prosecutor made a personal apology to Mr Burke’s family as soon as this mistake was realised and, in agreement with them, re-issued a letter containing the correct details.
“The PPS senior assistant director will be writing to the victim’s family to apologise formally.”