No comment from Veterans Affairs on murder-suicide case

Veterans Affairs Canada isn’t saying what specific steps were taken after the triple murder-suicide in Upper Big Tracadie earlier this year.

It wouldn’t confirm specifically if a suicide review was conducted after Afghan Vet Lionel Desmond killed his wife, daughter and mother before turning the gun on himself. A department spokesman says suicide reviews are systematically carried out…but because of client privacy and confidentiality, the department cannot comment on any specific veteran’s care.

The comments came after the provincial medical examiner refused to conduct a fatality inquiry into the case.