A SOCIAL worker still believes a teenage boy who stabbed his foster mother to death was an 'ideal' match for her family, an inquiry has heard.
Steven Lorimer said he thought Dawn McKenzie and her husband Bryan were suited to care for the 13-year-old who later killed her.
Mr Lorimer told a fatal accident inquiry into Mrs McKenzie's death he didn't have any 'reservations' about the teen - who cannot be named for legal reasons - moving in with the McKenzies.
The boy had lived with another family before he was placed with Mrs McKenzie, 34, in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, in November 2010.
She was killed in June 2011 at her home.
He was jailed for seven years in 2012 after being found guilty of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Under questioning Mr Lorimer, who had been the boy's designated social worker since June 2009, told the inquiry the McKenzies seemed the perfect match for the troubled youngster who was being moved from his previous carers.
He said: "There was no other reasonable resource for him other than a residential unit when he left the family if there wasn't a placement found.
"He was capable of being placed in a family and there was no reason he should have been placed in a residential unit.
"For a child a residential unit is not a good option and can lead to things happening that wouldn't happen if they were placed with a family.
"There was no reason for him to go into a residential unit.
"The McKenzies met the criteria for him.
"You instinctively know who will be a good carer and who will not. I would have had no reservations with him being placed with them. They were an ideal placement for him and I still believe that."
He added: "Mrs McKenzie spoke very fondly of him and he spoke very fondly of them too.
"It was a successful match and any time I left them I left thinking things were going well.
"He spoke about how much he was looking forward to the summer and going on holiday and how much he wanted to stay.
"He appeared to be enjoying attending the local school, was reaching his expected attainment and had struck up a friendship with Mrs McKenzie's nephew.
"The McKenzies saw it as an ongoing placement for him and they were looking forward to going on holiday.
"There was no indication that things weren't going well.
"There was no indication that anything untoward was going to happen.
"There was no mental health diagnosis for him and things were going well.
"There was no indication he was going to be violent to anyone."
The inquiry before Sheriff David Bicket continues.
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