'Suicide pact' for devoted couple who couldn't stand being sent to separate care homes

Tom and Nancie Hughes had rarely been apart during almost 60 years of marriage.

Friends say they were devoted to one another and were regularly seen holding hands on their weekly shopping trips.

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The bodies of the retired dentist, 82, and his 86-year-old wife were found side-by-side in the apartment they shared.

It is not yet known how they died but police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

It is understood that Mrs Hughes was suffering from dementia and her husband feared she would have to be placed in a facility that provides specialist care.

He believed that he would have to go to a separate care home some distance away.

The pair were found dead in their home town of Abergavenny, South Wales, shortly after receiving a visit from social services.

Authorities insisted yesterday that they had no plans to separate the Hugheses and had met with them only to discuss ways they could stay in their own home.

They said it was not "policy or practice" to split up elderly couples.

But friends believe that Mr Hughes worried he would not be able to care for his wife or himself and that separation was inevitable.

A neighbour said: "Nancie was suffering from a form of dementia and needed more care than Tom could give her. He also couldn't cope on his own at home.

"I think her husband must have taken the decision that they would be better off going together."

The Hugheses ran a popular dental practice together for more than 30 years and have two middle-aged sons who moved away from the market town in rural Monmouthshire.

After the deaths were discovered on Sunday the family released a statement which read: "Tom and Nancie were a loving couple who were devoted to each other and their children. They will be sadly missed."

County councillor Douglas Edwards yesterday launched an investigation into the tragedy.

He said: "I have heard the couple were upset at the thought they would be moved into different care homes because she had dementia.

"I will be making my own enquiries with social services to find out if the council had any part to play in this decision as the death of this couple is heartbreaking.

"There is a private care home in the town which specialises in dementia patients but it only has space for one or two patients who have all their faculties.

"This sort of facility is ideal for couples who don't want to be split up."

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: "We were saddened to hear about the tragic death of this well-respected couple and our sympathies go out to their family.

"In this instance, the couple were not involved with social services bar limited advice on housing adaptations which can allow people to remain in their own homes.

"If the couple did have worries about separation, we only wish that they would have contacted us.' She added: 'It is not our policy or practice to separate people."

Earlier, another social services spokesman said: "We would look at their physical needs and their emotional needs. As a devoted couple it would be even more important that they remain together and our emotional needs assessment would take that into account."

The couple's daughter-in-law Sandra Hughes said her husband Trevor was devastated at losing both his parents.

Outside their detached home in the village of Risca, Gwent, Mrs Hughes described her parents-in-law as a "truly lovely couple".

She added: "My husband is devastated. We are just far too upset to talk about this at the moment."

Flowers were placed outside the couple's home yesterday by friends.

Neighbour Judith Bannen, 51, said: "They were a very gentle couple and were always together holding hands as they walked into the town supermarket.

"It's been a big shock and very upsetting."

Sandra Smith, 57, said: "Mr Hughes was a lovely man. He was my dentist when I was a child - he was the only one I would go to. It's a terrible shock for our community."

An inquest into the deaths is due to be opened by Gwent Coroner David Bowen by the end of the week.