Daughter accuses authorities of ‘repeatedly missing opportunities to prevent tragedy’ after retired academic, 86, was ‘wrongfully killed’ in house fire started by grandson

The daughter of a retired academic who died in a fire started by the pensioner’s mentally ill teenage grandson today accused authorities of repeatedly missing opportunities to prevent the tragedy.

Karin Ronen complained that her mother Vera Croghan, 89, was denied justice after a coroner failed to highlight the failings that led to her “horrific death”.

Mrs Croghan was said to be terrified of Chanatorn Croghan, better known as Marco, who set fire to a cupboard shortly after police decided he posed no danger to her and refused to arrest him.

The 19-year-old’s father, Richard Croghan, feared for his mental health and asked for an intervention team to see him, but was told an appointment would not be available for several days.

A few hours before Marco started the fire, Mr Croghan called 999 because he believed he was having a psychotic disorder and that this would lead to his son killing him.

Vera Croghan, 89, (pictured) suffered burns in the fire and died from smoke inhalation

Ms Croghan was a former lecturer in Swedish and Scandinavian Studies at the University of East Anglia

Mrs. Croghan was said to have been petrified by Chanatorn Croghan (pictured), better known as Marco

Karin Ronen (pictured) complained that her mother had not received justice after a coroner failed to highlight the failings that led to her ‘horrific death’

Three officers arrived on scene and found the teenager under his duvet, speaking in a “monosyllabic” language. They took no further action.

They advised Mr Croghan to barricade himself in his room at the £750,000 Edwardian detached house in Norwich, Norfolk. However, he fled to his partner’s house nearby and Marco started the fire in his absence.

Mrs Croghan, a former lecturer in Swedish and Scandinavian studies at the University of East Anglia, suffered burns in the fire and died of smoke inhalation.

Marco was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and was given an indefinite TBS measure in October 2022 after he admitted to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

Norfolk County Coroner Yvonne Blake today ruled that Mrs Croghan was wrongfully killed. However, she rejected a request from the family to address the authorities’ failings. Blake said there was no evidence the teenager posed a threat to his grandmother or father.

Mrs Ronen, a nurse based in Norwich, said afterwards: ‘We believe there were multiple opportunities within the adult safeguarding team, mental health and the police to identify risks, but these were all ignored, disregarded or addressed in isolation.

‘Mother’s case is an example of a systematic failure to reflect and learn from mistakes made. We are deeply disappointed that the coroner did not emphasise this in his conclusion.’

Marco grew up in Thailand, where his mother was from, and had a history of mental health problems.

Ms Ronen, a nurse who lives in Norwich, said the case showed ‘systematic failings’

Mrs Croghan, a mother of four and grandmother of ten, was found dead on her bedroom floor

Norfolk Coroner Yvonne Blake today concluded that Mrs Croghan was unlawfully killed. (A general view of Norfolk Coroner’s Court)

At the age of 16, he moved to the United Kingdom after his mother complained that he was “aggressive and unruly”. He was sent to a boarding school in Norfolk, before completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester.

His father, who worked in oil exploration, had moved in with Mrs Croghan to care for her and had arranged to stay with them during the school holidays.

Marco beat his father in his home in May 2020 and broke into a neighbour’s house because he thought noises were coming from the property, the Norwich inquest heard.

He was subsequently locked up and held for two weeks at the Southern Hill mental health clinic in Norwich. Staff released him after deciding he was ‘relaxed and stable’ and posed a ‘low risk’ of violence.

Mr Croghan became increasingly concerned about his son as he repeatedly changed courses and suddenly turned up in Norwich on 9 December 2020.

Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust’s early intervention team were unable to arrange an urgent appointment and Mr Croghan told the hearing his son had suffered a “serious relapse” the following day when he began demanding his father’s phone.

“He seemed blank, expressionless. It was like he was talking to a cat,” he said.

“He didn’t understand everything or ignored it. It was about 10 or 11 p.m. I called the police just before midnight.”

Police outside the home of Swedish academic and retired university lecturer Vera Croghan after she died in a fire

Richard Croghan said in a victim statement that her death “has caused a huge shock that has torn our family apart”

When police officers arrived, Mr Croghan asked them to detain his son, but they ‘could do nothing as no crime had been committed’.

He was advised to barricade himself in his room if he thought his safety was at risk, but instead he went to his partner’s house.

He had turned off his phone, so he didn’t hear notifications from his mother’s alarm when it went off in the early hours of December 11.

Firefighters were called after a passer-by spotted smoke at 6.30am and Mrs Croghan, a mother of four and grandmother of ten, was found dead on the floor of her bedroom.

Marco had left the premises and when he returned later that day he was locked up.

Mrs Blake concluded the inquiry with the following words: ‘If Mr Croghan had stayed in the house he would have heard the fire alarm and things might have turned out differently.

“But he clearly didn’t think his mother was in danger and I believe him.”

Leanne Devine, partner at law firm Leigh Day, said afterwards: ‘The evidence presented to this inquiry has clearly shown that there was a clear lack of coordination between multiple agencies to protect elderly and vulnerable members of the community.’

Ms Ronen, who said her mother once arrived at her house with a suitcase because she was afraid of what Marco would do, added that her nephew was still a “very dangerous person” and that it was “not safe to be free”.

Mrs Croghan’s son Mike said in a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing at Norwich Crown Court that her death had caused “earthquakes that have torn our family apart”.

He added: ‘Chanatorn took our mother from us and I will never forgive him for that.’