Man who killed girlfriend told nurse he ‘could hear voices’

Mental health charge nurse Sarah Paterson told the inquiry Kennedy was a “suicide risk” after deciding to sleep in woods near Mrs Gallacher’s home, but said he had no plans to take his own life.

The inquiry heard notes from a meeting between Kennedy and Mrs Paterson during which he said “voices in his head were telling him to harm himself”.

Staff suspected he could be bi-polar and suffering from drug-induced psychosis.

Kennedy told Mrs Paterson he had not taken any illicit substances but admitted previously taking street Valium.

“James self-referred with paranoid ideas that his friend Joanne was making plans to harm him,” a note from the meeting said.

“James described as being able to hear Joanne’s thoughts and that she planned to harm him when he was asleep.

“He advised he has been sleeping rough in woods in the Greenhills area.

“He reported feeling unsafe saying he is in danger.”