Key Points
- Christopher Whittle, a victim of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, has finally won a battle that took three decades to fight regarding the death of his brother, Anthony Joseph Whittle.
- Anthony Whittle was 30 years old when he died in November 1994 after escaping from the Hergest psychiatric unit in Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor, Gwynedd via the window.
- The inquest jury has concluded that Anthony’s death was due to misadventure as a result of acute mental health condition.
- However, the inquest conducted in February 1995 was quashed after the High Court confirmed Mr Whittle’s application in January 2024.
- Evidences that were submitted during the fresh inquest at Caernarfon mentioned the fact that Anthony Whittle was assessed by a trainee psychiatrist, Dr Tom McMonagle before his escape from the psychiatric unit through a window and down the sloping roof.
- He was found dead on the next day near the A55 dual carriageway at Llandygai.
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (which currently operates the unit) said that security and assessment procedure have changed since the time of Anthony Whittle’s death.
- Mr Whittle believed that it is wrong that his brother escaped from the unit that is termed as a secure unit.
Wales (Wales Times) October 08, 2026 — A Hillsborough survivor has won a 34-year fight for a fresh examination of his brother’s death after Anthony Joseph Whittle absconded from a psychiatric unit in uk/local/bangor/">Bangor and was later found dead near the A55. The conclusion, reached by a jury at a second inquest in Caernarfon, found that Anthony Whittle died by misadventure after suffering an acute mental health episode.
As reported by the Daily Post, Christopher Whittle, 65, had spent decades seeking a fuller investigation into the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death. Anthony, who was 30 and a first-year forestry student at Bangor University, had been taken to the Hergest psychiatric unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd after being picked up by police in Prestatyn.
The fresh inquest followed a High Court ruling that the original hearing, held on February 22, 1995, was inadequate. In October 2023, Christopher Whittle petitioned the Attorney General to have the earlier verdict overturned. The High Court granted that request on January 5, 2024, allowing a new inquest to take place.
What Did The Jury Conclude?
The jury concluded that Anthony Whittle died by misadventure after suffering an acute mental health episode. According to evidence reported by the BBC, Anthony underwent an assessment before leaving the unit through what was believed to be a secure window.
As reported by WalesOnline, Anthony’s body was discovered hours after he fled the facility, near the A55 in North Wales on November 25, 1994. The original inquest had determined that his injuries were consistent with a fall from height, with the incident occurring on the expressway between Llandygai Halfway and Bangor.
The conclusion of misadventure means the jury found that Anthony died as a result of an unintended act or event, rather than suicide or unlawful killing. It does not amount to a finding of negligence against an individual or organisation.
What Happened On The Night He Died?
Christopher Whittle told the hearing in Caernarfon that he and his father, Robert, had arranged to meet Anthony at Chester railway station on November 24, 1994. Anthony did not arrive, and the pair travelled to Bangor to look for him.
According to the Rhyl Journal, they were later told that Anthony had been transferred to the Hergest unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd. Police had arranged for him to be taken there after he was picked up in Prestatyn.
Christopher told the inquest that he and his father went to meet Anthony at the unit. He said Anthony hugged them and told them he loved them, but also said that he had changed.
As reported by the BBC, Christopher said Anthony appeared “dishevelled, melancholic, and quiet” before returning to his room. Shortly afterwards, Christopher heard a crash. A doctor then explained that Anthony had escaped through a window and climbed down a sloping roof.
What Did The Doctor Say?
Dr Tom McMonagle, who was a trainee psychiatrist at the Hergest Unit in 1994, gave evidence remotely. According to WalesOnline, he said the unit was not intended to be “highly secure” and typically locked its doors between 8pm and 8am.
Dr McMonagle told the inquest that he had assessed Anthony at length before leaving the interview room to speak with his father and brother. He said he believed it was safe to leave Anthony in a secure space where he could be monitored, because Anthony had calmed after initially trying to leave through a locked door.
Christopher Whittle questioned why his brother had been left alone in his room while the doctor spoke with him and his father. As reported by WalesOnline, Christopher asked: “If Anthony was so desperately ill, why was he left alone in his room while a doctor was speaking with me?”
A witness reported seeing someone on the roof. Dr McMonagle and nursing assistant Michael Roberts searched the area and called out for Anthony, but received no response. The surrounding terrain was described as dense with undergrowth.
When asked whether someone in a desperate state could navigate the terrain, Dr McMonagle said it was possible.
What Did Christopher Whittle Say?
Following the hearing, Christopher Whittle said: “I have always known it was wrong that my brother was able to escape from what was supposed to be a secure mental health unit.”
As reported by INQUEST, the charity and campaign organisation, Christopher said:
“In the decades since Anthony’s death, my parents have also passed away, and I’ve become the only one left fighting for justice for my brother.”
Christopher told the inquest that he and Anthony had endured difficult times together. He also told the court that he had been present at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989, and had subsequently experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to the BBC, Christopher said his brother’s death had left him “traumatised”. He described the death as “shocking and horrific” and said it had affected him “beyond any form of recognition”.
What Changes Have Been Made?
Current staff at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which now runs the unit, told the inquest that changes had been made in the three decades since Anthony’s death.
As reported by the BBC and Yahoo News, windows at the unit are now more secure and more difficult to open. Anti-climb guttering has also been installed outside the building.
The health board said the system for assessing patients brought in by police had changed. It also said anti-ligature measures had been introduced to reduce risks within the unit.
Regan, head of mental health services for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north-west Wales, told the inquest that new windows had been installed since 1994. According to WalesOnline, he said the health board had implemented anti-ligature measures and anti-climb guttering to mitigate the risk of escape.
What Did The Solicitor Say?
Becky Randel, of RWK Goodman solicitors, said she was pleased that Christopher had finally been able to have Anthony’s death “properly explored”.
As reported by Yahoo News, Ms Randel said Christopher had been able to “question those who made decisions in his care and were involved in the search for him”.
INQUEST, which supported the family’s campaign, said Christopher Whittle had “finally been able to have Anthony’s death properly explored”. The organisation described the case as one in which the family had sought answers about the decisions made in Anthony’s care and the subsequent search for him.
Background Of The Development
Anthony Joseph Whittle was a mature, first-year forestry student at Bangor University when he experienced a psychotic episode in November 1994. According to Nation.Cymru, he had previously been sectioned twice following mental health breakdowns, including on one occasion when he had attempted to take his own life.
Christopher Whittle told the inquest that Anthony had initially settled well at university but later became “very down” and would telephone home two or three times a day in tears. On November 24, Christopher said he found evidence of cannabis in his brother’s flat in Bangor, along with a note reading: “The devil is coming to kill me, but God will protect me.”
The original inquest in 1995 recorded findings relating to Anthony’s injuries and the circumstances of his death. More than two decades later, Christopher Whittle applied to the Attorney General for that inquest verdict to be quashed.
The High Court’s decision in January 2024 allowed a second inquest to be held at the Dafydd Orwig Chamber in Caernarfon. The fresh proceedings enabled the jury to hear evidence from those involved in Anthony’s care and the search that followed his disappearance.
Prediction: How Could This Affect Families?
This development may affect families of people receiving mental health care by reinforcing the importance of clear record-keeping, risk assessment, secure premises and prompt communication when a patient leaves a unit unexpectedly.
For families in Gwynedd and across North Wales, the case may encourage closer scrutiny of how health boards explain decisions made during acute mental health crises. Families seeking answers after a death may see the outcome as an example of why fresh inquests can be sought when earlier proceedings are considered inadequate.
The jury’s conclusion of misadventure does not determine civil liability or establish that any individual acted wrongly. However, the evidence about later improvements to windows, anti-climb measures and assessment procedures may influence how families, patients and advocates assess the safeguards now in place at the Hergest unit.
For mental health service users and their relatives, the development may increase attention on the balance between patient autonomy, clinical risk and physical security. It may also encourage families to ask detailed questions about observation arrangements, escape-prevention measures and the immediate response when a patient is missing.
