Our son was stabbed to death by a released prisoner – will Burnham keep his promise so this can never happen again?

THE family of a dad killed by a released prisoner have called on the PM to fulfil his promise to them and reform the “broken” justice system. Ten years ago, Michael Hoolickin, 27, was murdered by “feral and animalistic” Timothy Deakin, who should never have been on the streets. Michael Hoolickin, 27, pictured with his son Ellis Credit: MEN Media Michael’s parents have banded together with other victims’ families to form an organisation called VOICE – backed by Andy Burnham – and call for an inquiry into the probation system Credit: Supplied Michael, who leaves behind a son, Ellis, was on a night out when he saw the thug hitting his own sister and bravely stepped in to defend her, telling him “you shouldn’t hit a woman.” Deakin – who was on probation after being jailed for biting a man’s ear off – then stabbed Michael five times in the chest and stomach outside the Manchester pub in 2016. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The 23-year-old had been let out on licence eight months earlier after serving half of a four-and-a-half year sentence. He was deemed “high risk” but freed under supervision – despite being a risk to life, specifically to men of a similar age. The lag was supposed to obey stringent conditions, but was not recalled despite being arrested for driving offences and drug possession. Have you been affected by the early release of prisoners? Email emily.davies@thesun.co.uk An inquest into Michael’s death found several missed opportunities by the probation service that contributed to his murder. Michael’s dad Garry slammed the “shameful” probation system, telling The Sun nothing has changed since his son’s death – and that Andy Burnham promised to back his family in their fight for justice last year. Most read in The Sun It comes as a controversial sentencing shake-up means rapists, sex offenders and killers could be released from jail early, from September. The new PM has paused the “deplorable” scheme and ordered an urgent review after a furious backlash from victims’ families. Garry and Lesley want the probation system to be reformed to prevent more deaths Credit: MEN Media Michael was killed by Timothy Deakin, who should never have been on the streets Credit: Manchester Evening News The plan was meant to tackle overcrowding in prisons, but FOI data shows 622 alleged murders were committed by a lag on probation between 2014 and 2020 – one every three days. Garry told The Sun: “It’s just a huge pocket of families being denied true justice here, and it’s just shameful. It really is shameful. “This kid should never have been on the street – and it was all hidden from us. “He shouldn’t have been out. He should have been recalled 51 times. And the probation services didn’t do it and they’ve not been held accountable. “If they had, my son might still be alive. It’s gotten worse, to be honest, we know it’s gotten worse.” Deakin was described as “feral and lawless” by officials, an inquest heard. Probation case manager Natalia Atkinson wanted him to be recalled, but shockingly senior probation officer Catherine Entwistle told the inquest she “had not read the emails” sent to her about Deakin. Deakin was jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years. But in another failure, Garry says he has received an email informing him the killer was moved to a lower security Category C prison – four years ago. Retired footballer Garry, 67, is one of several families who have banded together to form an organisation called VOICE and call for an inquiry into the probation system. They met with Burnham several times to discuss the scandal before he was Prime Minister, and he came to show his support when VOICE was launched last year. Garry added: “The mess within the probation seems to be immune to any sort of legislation, any statutory inquiries. They’re not covered by any laws, any codes. “Hopefully Andy will keep to his word now and do major changes at least to this failed probation service.” The VOICE group pictured with Burnham last year Credit: Supplied Burnham promised Garry he would back him ‘all the way’ in his fight for justice Credit: EPA Michael’s mum Lesley said: “Every day, I don’t like listening to the news because when I hear that people have been stabbed to death, well it just breaks my heart. “Because I know exactly what it’s all about and I know how the families are feeling and it’s horrific.” Burnham said at the launch of VOICE: “I first met the Hoolickins a few years ago. I honestly was shocked to hear about the failures that had led to Michael’s death, and the lack of openness, accountability to the family, failure to get to the truth about what happened. “For me, I particularly remember the reforms to the probation service around the time that Michael died. “There were so many warnings in Parliament about what was being done and how it might throw things into chaos. They were all ignored. “The probation service did go into chaos with devastating consequences for the family.” In 2013, the heavily criticised Transforming Rehabilitation reforms changed how probation was organised and delivered, spitting up the management of high-risk offenders and low to medium-risk criminals. Burnham said: “I’ve always supported their campaign. I said to Garry, Lesley, and the family that I would back them all the way. “It’s not just the Hoolickins. There’s so many families all in the same boat, all been treated the same way, with a complete lack of respect, lack of openness, it’s just not right. “Victims should be at the heart of the system, but they’re being treated as an oversight, they’re just kind of missed or pushed to the side. “We need answers. We need a review of the probation service. How was this allowed to happen? I strongly support the calls VOICE is making. They have my support all the way. We need justice.” VOICE believes there are other families out there who have no idea their loved one was killed by a criminal on probation. Garry said it has taken ten years for the Serious Further Offence (SFO) report to be released to the family. A SFO is a specific violent and/or sexual offence committed by people who are under probation supervision or have very recently been under probation supervision at the time of the offence. Families of victims are entitled to see these documents, but a report found many are given it “months or even years” after a conviction. Data shows that criminals on probation have committed more than 750 murders and sex attacks in the past five years. More than 40 per cent of SFOs are committed by people who were mistakenly classified as “medium risk” right before the crime happened, a probation report found. In 2023-2024 there were 56 offenders convicted of murder while under probation supervision. The report found a “consistent and concerning trend” with probation-led reviews as public protection issues are being driven by underlying system failings, including massive backlogs and understaffing. Families also reported a lack of support, engagement and “limited compassion”. The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment.