Dennis Finnegan

Dennis Finnegan, a 50-year-old banker from Putney, south-west London, was murdered on 2 September 2004 while cycling through Richmond Park. He was repeatedly stabbed in the heart by John Barrett, a 42-year-old paranoid schizophrenic with a history of violence.

Barrett had walked out of Springfield Hospital in Tooting the day before as a voluntary patient, despite serious concerns about his deteriorating mental state and plans by the Home Office to recall him. Barrett told police he heard voices commanding him to kill but specifically avoided targeting women or children. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Finnegan’s family expressed deep anger, calling for an independent inquiry and stating that failures in Barrett’s mental health care made the death preventable. Barrett was later sentenced (with adjustments) and the case led to criticism of NHS mental health services. An independent inquiry highlighted systemic blunders in his care.

Rest in peace Dennis. You will not be forgotten.