'No way to predict Satanist's killing'

Police and social services today said there was nothing they could do to protect a 12-year-old boy from the hands of a crazed satanist.

To the anger of Diego Pineiro's family, an inquiry in which both agencies participated concluded that his murder in May 2000 in a crowded street in Covent Garden could not have been "predicted or easily prevented".

In the inquiry's report, the agencies, along with the justice system, were criticised for a serious breakdown in communications in the run-up to Diego's death.

However - in what Diego's family are bound to regard as a whitewash - all the agencies involved were cleared of direct blame for the tragedy.

Diego was stabbed to death even though it was widely known that he was being stalked by Edward Crowley, who changed his name in honour of the Satanist Aleister Crowley.

He had been released on bail on charges of harassing Diego, despite a social services report concluding he was suffering a personality disorder and was "dangerous".

Furthermore indecency charges against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service and he successfully appealed against bail conditions requiring him to report daily to Kentish Town police. A few weeks later, he killed Diego.

Crowley, 53, was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in February last year.

Diego's mother Angeles Fernandez said at the time: "Everyone knew this man was dangerous yet the police did not do enough to protect Diego from him. If they had my boy would still be alive."

The report by Camden Area Child Protection Committee and Camden and Islington Health Authority published numerous failings by those responsible for the boy's safety. But Jane Held, director of social services and chairwoman of the inquiry, concluded: "A's (Diego) death was a tragic event that could not have been predicted nor easily prevented."