'One-in-a-million' mum killed by partner on first night of family holiday

A mum was killed by her partner on the first day of a family holiday. Jillian Hughes suffered a "heavy blow" during an altercation with her then partner, John Meadows.

The 57-year-old was rushed to hospital but sadly died a short time later. Jillian had been visiting the Isle of Man with her family when the tragedy occurred on March 29 this year.

At around 9.20pm, an altercation occurred outside the Palace Hotel on Central Promenade, Douglas. An inquest into the death of the nan, held at the the Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool on Monday, December 16, heard how the family had been celebrating the Easter weekend with a trip away, Liverpool Echo reports.

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They had been having drinks together in the city centre when an argument occurred between Jillian, who was from Kirby, and another family member. The family had been walking along the promenade outside the Best Western hotel when an altercation took place.

Jillian, a mental health worker, sustained a single blow to the head and fell to the floor. Emergency crews were called and she was rushed to Noble's Hospital but she was pronounced dead at around 10.28pm. Jillian suffered a “heavy blow” to the left side of her neck after being punched once just before she became unresponsive and suffered a cardiac arrest, the inquest heard.

Coroner André Rebello ruled Jillian had died following an unlawful and dangerous act that caused death. He concluded she died from an unlawful killing following a fatal blow on March 29, 2024, which resulted in her death the same day.

Meadows, 53, of Verney Crescent in Allerton pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October and he was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison. Jillian's family paid tribute to her in an emotional statement after her death.

They said: "Our Jill was one in a million. She was such a happy, sarcastic, hardworking and passionate person. We want everyone to know that Jill was a well-respected mum of three to Chantelle, Sarah and Megan; also nan to Billy, Georgie and Maiya.

"Jill was a true diamond who thrived for life. She was liked and loved everywhere she went, her huge smile would light up a room. We as a family will never ever be able to come to terms with what has happened, we are all living a complete nightmare. This killing should never have taken place."