The meeting follows the inquest on Steven's death, which concluded on Friday with senior coroner John Leckey saying he had important issues to raise with the Minister.

Steven (43) took his own life in February 2004 after no psychiatric beds were available at Craigavon Area Hospital or in any other hospital in Northern Ireland.

He had reported to Craigavon's Accident and Emergency Department - accompanied by family members - having expressed suicidal thoughts, coupled with fears that innocent people might be harmed as the result of any action he took.

The report from Mr Leckey confirmed that Steven had been assessed as being at "definite" risk of suicide. It was decided to admit him to hospital, and he agreed.

But it transpired that no beds were available at Craigavon or anywhere else in Northern Ireland, and - in the words of sister-in-law Cathy McAdam - the family was told "to take him home and not leave him alone".

He was then taken to his parents' home in Portadown and the next morning to his new home in Bangor where he lived with his wife Margaret and their children Andrew (then 15) and Sarah (10).

An appointment had been made for him to attend Ards Hospital within five days, but 48 hours after being turned away from Craigavon, he was dead. The former Portadown and Burnley footballer slipped quietly out of the back door of his home and drove the six miles to Donaghadee where he accelerated into Belfast Lough.

The inquest report recalled that a woman walking on their pier witnessed him throwing his driver's licence out of the car window - so that he could be identified - and that he drove into the sea beside the lifeboat station. Crew members raised the alarm and Steven's body was recovered from the harbour later that morning.

Friday's verdict was that he died from drowning - "by his own act whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed".

The family is adamant that changes must be made to psychiatric services in Northern Ireland, and they add they are "appalled and disgusted that Craigavon does not seem to have learned anything from the situation".

Said Cathy McAdam, "We have a letter from Craigavon that - following a meeting in July 2004 - doctors concluded nothing additional could have been done to assist Mr McAdam and the family, and in hindsight treatment and care would not have been different - that nothing could be learned from the case that would improve upon current practice."

She added, "We regarded this as an insult to the family. Steve was discharged to the care of a family which was at the end of its tether and which had no experience whatsoever in psychiatric care.

"We still cannot believe that he was refused care, and - in hindsight - we should have left him in Craigavon and forced the issue. Had services been up to standard, Steve could still be here today."

At the inquest, senior coroner Mr Leckey said that he, too, would be raising concerns with the minister because there were no psychiatric beds available in Northern Ireland at the time of Steven McAdam's suicide.

Mr Leckey added, "I am satisfied that no action could have been taken that would have removed completely the risk of Steven taking his own life. At best, a risk management plan can only reduce the risk of this happening."

And after referring to the shortage of beds in Northern Ireland, he said it was a very important issue which he would be taking up with Mr McGimpsey.

After the hearing, a spokesman for the Department of Health said they would carefully consider the coroner's concerns.

The spokesman added, "The minister considers improving the provision of mental health services to be a top priority for the Department.

"It is an area where there has been under-investment in the past and the Department is determined to reverse that trend.

"During the recent budget negotiations the minister fought hard for additional funds for areas such as this, and will be investing £54 million in mental health services over the next three years."

Portadown suicide treatment expert Dr Arthur Cassidy said, "It is incomprehensible that a patient who has been clinically assessed and who presumably met the diagnostic criteria for suicidal behaviour, as in this case, was discharged as a result of flawed thinking and irresponsible decision making by those medically in charge of this case."