THE family of a Greenock man who died in a blade attack fear his killer will soon be free to walk the streets.

Ryan McNeill, 29, was stabbed to death in 2014 while trying to protect a woman from an assault carried out by thug John McPherson in Glasgow.

Now, just five years, on his grieving mum Mary has been told that the man who killed her son could be let out of Carstairs State Hospital by a tribunal panel.

The mental health patient admitted culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility following the fatal attack in March 2014.

Now his victim's family have vowed to campaign to stop his release.

Mary, 68, of Rowan Court in Port Glasgow, said: "Where is the justice?

"There is no justice, not for Ryan or for our family.

"If he can no longer be treated, then send him to prison.

"My son will never get the chance of a nice life.

"He will never meet a nice girl, have a family - why should he get that chance to do that?

"He was out on bail and should never have been on the streets in the first place."

Mary says that the news of McPherson's potential release has been a major setback for her as she continues to grieve for her son.

She told the Telegraph: "I feel like I am reliving it all every single minute of the day.

"It has brought it all back again.

"He not only killed my son, but he killed my husband.

"My husband Allan had heart and lung problems and was fighting cancer.

"He just gave up when Ryan died.

"He couldn't go on without his son.

"He wanted to be up there with him."

Mary, who has suffered from mental health problems, anxiety and agoraphobia, added: "I have tried to take my own life before.

"Sometimes I think I can't go on without Allan and Ryan.

"But I have promised my daughter I would never do that again.

"I couldn't leave her on her own."

Ryan's dad passed away almost two years after the death of his son.

Now Mary faces going to killer McPherson's mental health tribunal with a letter, to try to keep him inside.

Mary was surrounded by family members, including her daughter Karenmarie and close friends, as she spoke of her ordeal.

Ryan McNeill, who was the main carer for both his mum and dad, was set upon by McPherson in Easterhouse after driving there to a party.

He later tried to intervene to stop a woman from being assaulted.

At the time the court heard that McPherson became angry, went to fetch a knife and then came at Ryan from behind to inflict a series of blows.

Ryan suffered a wound to his heart and he collapsed and died at the scene as McPherson fled.

Sister Karenmarie, 48, a mum of three, says she will never get over what happened to her brother.

She said: "I had to go to Glasgow to identify my brother.

"I have to wake up with that every single day."

The family have vowed to launch a petition as part of their campaign to block Ryan's killer's release.

Mary's son-in-law Jim Ward said: "For us it means we are left with an empty chair at Christmas.

"There is no justice."

Mary said Ryan was a hugely popular young man with lots of friends who have been left devastated by his death.

She said: "Everyone knew and loved Ryan.

"He had so many friends.

"He was such a lovely, caring boy."

Mary recently received a letter from the mental health tribunal inviting her to make a representation about McPherson's case.

The panel will meet in June to decide what action to take on his treatment.

Options open to them include a conditional discharge with differing restrictions and McPherson being fully discharged.

They could also decide he should remain in Carstairs, subject to his compulsion and restriction order.

Ryan's friend Rosaleen Lyle, 34, who was speaking along with his childhood friend Lorraine Armour, said: "We want him [McPherson] in prison.

"We will do whatever it takes to stop his release happening.

"They can't just let him go.

"It has ruined too many lives.

"We don't want this to happen to some other other poor family."