PARENTS of tragic manic depression sufferer Andrew McDonald have put the record straight after the inquest into his death described him as 'violent.'

Andrew, aged 28 of Close Lane, Alsager, was found drowned lying face down in a nearby farmer's field after absconding from a psychiatric ward in Leighton Hospital in January last year.

The inquest, which returned an open verdict, was told Andrew could become violent and escaped from Ward 21 after swinging a punch at a doctor trying to restrain him.

But parents Norma and Winton claimed the hearing didn't do him justice.

"At the inquest they painted Andrew as a violent and really horrible person. But he has always had a really good rapport with the staff at Leighton Hospital," said Mrs McDonald.

"Andrew was a very caring and sensitive person. He was an easy going, intelligent and talented artist and musician. He used to play the guitar for the other patients to cheer them up."

The inquest was held for a second time after the jury at a hearing in October failed to reach a verdict.

But both parents were angered after inquest coroner John Hibbert this time said he could not offer the second jury a possible neglect verdict.

Mrs McDonald said they believed the hospital was guilty of criminal negligence and have vowed to fight on to win their case.

"No matter how dispirited we have felt we have never felt like giving up," she said.

"It's nothing to do with monetary gain, it's justice for Andrew that we want because he didn't deserve to die the way that he did.

"We can't comment officially on what we are going to do, but we are weighing up all our options and we are going to take it further.

"We are waiting for the results of an independant review which has been called for by the NHS. That will be in another two or three weeks."

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