Zara Aleena’s family are ‘deeply disappointed’ and have called for an investigation after a female prison worker was charged with having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with her killer.
Jordan McSweeney is serving 38 years in the high security category A prison for murdering law graduate Zara, 35, as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in June 2022.
Female prison workshop instructor Hayley Jones, 33, from Strood, Kent, allegedly had a month-long sexual relationship with McSweeney, 31, in HMP Belmarsh.
Zara’s aunt Farah Naz has revealed the family wants an investigation into the alleged relationship, which she says ‘not only defies justice but also highlights serious systemic failures’.
She told MailOnline they find it ‘deeply troubling to learn that the prison system had failed to manage a Class A prisoner just four months into his life sentence’ and claims the situation demonstrates ‘serious systemic failures’ in the prison system.
Jones has been charged with wilful misconduct in a public office. McSweeney has also been charged with assisting an offender between March 6 and April 7, 2023. They both will appear at Westminster magistrates’ court tomorrow morning.
Jordan McSweeney is serving 38 years in the high security category A prison for murdering law graduate Zara, 35, (pictured) as she walked home from a night out in June 2022
Hayley Jones, 33, from Strood, Kent, allegedly had a month-long relationship with Zara Aleena’s killer Jordan McSweeney, 31, (pictured) in HMP Belmarsh, south London
‘The inquest into our dear Zara’s death revealed systemic flaws that allowed her murder to occur. Now, we see further evidence of more failures within the justice system,’ Ms Naz told MailOnline today.
She claimed the family is ‘deeply disappointed’ that McSweeney and Jones allegedly shared a sexual relationship.
‘When he was sentenced to life imprisonment, I assured my family that justice had been served. It is deeply troubling to learn that the prison system had failed to manage a Class A prisoner just four months into his life sentence,’ she said.
‘This situation not only defies justice but also highlights serious systemic failures.’
Ms Naz acknowledged that Jones has been charged, but also argued ‘this does not resolve the core issue of how such a serious breach happened’.
She said: ‘We must investigate how a high-security prisoner was apparently left alone with a female staff member. We must examine Belmarsh Prison’s management practices, staff screening, and supervision.
‘We must investigate how and why a sexual predator and murderer of a woman was apparently left alone with a female staff member.’
Jones was reportedly arrested in June last year and suspended from duties after an allegation of inappropriate conduct was reported to police officers.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment on live legal proceedings.’
A jury inquest ruled in June that failures ‘across multiple agencies’ contributed to Zara’s death.
McSweeney had been released from prison on licence just nine days before the killing, but had breached his conditions and was recalled to prison on 22 June.
The police were given powers to arrest him two days later, but delays in the necessary paperwork meant the police were unable to arrest him before he killed Zara.
Farah Naz, Zara’s aunt, (pictured in July 2022) has been left ‘deeply disappointed and shocked’ by the latest development, saying: ‘It undermines the very notion of justice’
A jury inquest ruled in June that failures ‘across multiple agencies’ contributed to Zara’s death
Undated CCTV image issued by the Metropolitan Police of sexual predator Jordan McSweeney just before he attacked Zara Aleena
McSweeney ambushed Zara Aleena and punched her in the back of the head before dragging the 35-year-old into a driveway and kicking her as she lay on the ground as she went home after a night out in June 2022.
As the law graduate lay dying, the brute sexually assaulted her then grabbed her handbag, mobile phone and keys. He then walked away but returned moments later to deliver the fatal final blows.
Ms Aleena died in hospital from a blunt force head injury and neck compression, the jury said.
McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting Ms Aleena’s murder and sexual assault.
In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence.
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