THE mother of Antony Rigby - the teenager killed by his mentally ill pal - says she may take legal advice over his death.

Her decision came on the day that an independent inquiry published an 87-page report into the care and treatment of his killer, Mark Harrington.

The report criticised those responsible for the mental health care of Harrington and made 29 recommendations for improvements including the consideration of disciplinary action.

The report, commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust and compiled by health professionals from outside East Lancashire, also answered 11 questions put forward by Carole Rigby, relating to Harrington's treatment and the actions of doctors and mental health staff.

Mrs Rigby, 44, of Corwen Close, Blackburn, who has two daughters, Paula, 26, and Maria, 25, said: "My family feel very strongly that Anthony's death could have been avoided and if the people in charge had done their jobs properly then he would still have been alive. I've been advised to seek legal advice, but I am not sure exactly what it will be.

"It was a thorough report and I'm quite happy nothing was swept under the carpet, but I need the opportunity to look at it fully in my own time and sit down and think it through. The people who are responsible for Anthony's death should be disciplined but I don't know what I will do.

"I can't say we are able to move forward from Anthony's death until we have sat down as family."

Anthony died in January 2002, two days before his 19th birthday, after being shot once in the back of the head. Carole discovered him lying in a pool of blood in his flat in Swift Close, Larkhill.

Harrington, of St James Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Preston Crown Court and was detained indefinitely in a mental health unit. The report into the incident revealed a catalogue of failures into the care and treatment of Harrington, who was 19 at the time of the incident.