Father Advocates for Safety

The tragic case of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who was killed by Valdo Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic with a history of mental health issues, has raised serious concerns about the adequacy of mental health care in the UK. Despite being repeatedly sectioned, Calocane was discharged by mental health teams, even after warnings that he posed a potential threat to others. Grace’s father described a recent report on Calocane’s care as “devastating,” highlighting missed opportunities to intervene and prevent the tragedy. Families of the victims, including Grace, Barnaby and Ian, are now calling for a judge-led statutory public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the killings. They argue that numerous chances to alter Calocane’s trajectory were overlooked by healthcare professionals. The families are advocating for systemic changes to ensure public safety, emphasizing that no other family should have to fear for their loved ones’ safety in everyday situations. Dr. Sinead O’Malley, Grace’s mother, has established a foundation in her daughter’s name, who was on the path to becoming a doctor. She expressed that the three victims might still be alive had the NHS provided adequate support when needed. Shadow Health Secretary Mr. Streeting echoed these sentiments, stating that the findings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are deeply distressing and indicate that the NHS's failures have dire consequences. The families are determined to seek justice and reform, aiming to prevent future tragedies linked to mental health care inadequacies.