A young mother was stabbed to death by her jealous ex just hours after she announced her new relationship on Facebook, an inquest has heard.
Regan Tierney, 27, was murdered in her own home by Daniel Patten, 31, in a horrific murder-suicide in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 2019.
The couple had an on-again, off-again relationship and had two children together, an inquest into Mrs Tierney’s death heard.
Bolton Crown Court was told that on June 4, 2019, the mother-of-two updated her Facebook status to indicate she was in a relationship with a new man.
Her heartbroken sister Shannon said Patten immediately sent Ms Tierney a screenshot of the update, even though she had blocked him on Facebook.
Later, Shannon texted Ms. Tierney asking if Patten had sent her anything else, to which she replied, “No.”
Heartbreakingly, this was the last conversation Shannon had with her sister, as a few hours later Patten called Mrs. Tierney’s grandfather and told him he had killed her.
Regan Tierney, 27, (pictured) was murdered in her own home by Daniel Patten, 31, in a horrific murder-suicide in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 2019
Bolton Crown Court was told the mother-of-two updated her Facebook status on June 4, 2019 to indicate she was in a relationship with a new man
Daniel Patten (pictured) was found with serious injuries and died shortly afterwards
The court heard the family rushed to Mrs Tierney’s home where her body was found on the upstairs bed, covered in blood.
Patten was also found with serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
Mrs Tierney was pronounced dead at the scene and Patten later died of his injuries.
Shannon, who wore a T-shirt with a picture of her sister, told the court that Patten had previously been given a suspended sentence for an attack on Ms Tierney.
Shannon said this happened after an argument where her sister wanted to go home but Pattern did not, and that Ms Tierney choked on her blood during the incident.
On May 25, 2019, both Ms. Tierney and her father Dave Tierney called police to report Patten’s abusive behavior.
She said in a statement read to the court: ‘My sister was murdered at her home address on Manchester Road, Walkden on June 5, 2019.
‘I would be better off without a hand or a leg than without my sister. It’s like missing a limb, missing my best friend.
‘She was not listened to, it was fatal for her.
‘He went into her face and punched her. She fell to the ground and Daniel continued to punch and kick her.
‘After the suspended sentence there was a lot of talk of mental abuse.
“He sent her messages telling her she was fat, that she looked awful and that no other man wanted her.”
Police were called to Regan’s home in Salford, Greater Manchester, at approximately 2.10am on Wednesday 5 June 2019.
Emergency services arrived on the scene and found Regans’ body, leading to a murder investigation.
In a statement issued at the time of her death, Regan’s family said: ‘She was a loving mother who adored family life and she will be greatly missed by her two children and family.
‘Regan was taken from our lives far too soon. She was a beautiful daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece and a wonderful mother.
“We will cherish the memories forever.”
Pictured: The scene at a house on Manchester Road Walkden where Regan Tierney was found dead
Pictured: Mrs. Tierney’s funeral, where her life was remembered in an emotional service
Salford Community Safety Partnership previously commissioned a domestic abuse investigation following concerns about Regan’s contact with Greater Manchester Police and other agencies prior to her death.
The report found that a number of opportunities were being missed by services including GMP, GP practices, Bolton NHS FT services, Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation and Salford Royal NHS Trust.
During their 10-year relationship, Tierney was subjected to coercive and controlling behavior, intimidation, verbal abuse, physical violence and threats from Patten.
But despite telling several professionals she had been a victim of domestic abuse, the investigation found Ms Tierney had never been referred to specialist domestic abuse services.
The investigation also found that Bolton NHS Foundation Trust A&E missed opportunities to protect the young mother after she presented with a broken nose in October 2012.
Mrs Tierney told hospital staff that Patten had caused the injury, but hospital staff did not consider referring her to specialist domestic abuse services.
Greater Manchester Police also carried out a risk assessment with Regan following the attack, which was deemed to be ‘standard risk’ but was later upgraded to ‘medium risk’.
The investigation, led by coroner Peter Sigee, continues.