Zara Aleena killer wrongly classified, inquest told

But Mr Uwaifo told the jury that when he spoke to McSweeney, “he told me things were fine” during a video call from prison in February 2022.

He said he had not taken McSweeney’s account at face value, and had contacted his prison offender manager for more information, but admitted: “I should have followed that up, which I didn’t.”

In a second video call meeting, on 7 June of that year, McSweeney told him he had abstained from drink and drugs in custody.

Mr Uwaifo said he did not check with the prison whether this was true.

On 17 June, McSweeney was released from prison on licence, but did not attend his initial probation appointment.

The inquest heard his mother had said he was passed out drunk.

But when asked if he had reviewed the risk assessment, Mr Uwaifo replied: “Not at the time, no.”