News

The mother of a man with mental health problems who was shot dead last week by police at Heathrow after threatening them with a replica gun, may sue the agencies she claims failed to help him.

Maureen Larkins is reported to be considering legal action against Hounslow council, which she says ignored her pleas to offer son Keith services in the weeks before he died.

Keith Larkins, aged 33, was seen by staff at the West London Mental Health Trust at the end of May, but failed to keep an appointment a week later. A home visit was scheduled for the day after his death.

In a joint statement, the trust and council said: “This is a very upsetting incident for everyone concerned and every sympathy goes out to his family. We will be doing everything possible to understand what led to this happening.”