HALIFAX -- The terms of reference for the public inquiry into the deaths of Afghanistan war veteran Lionel Desmond and his family have been released.

The inquiry will examine whether Desmond had access to appropriate mental health services, and whether his family had access to domestic violence intervention services.

The province promised a judicial fatality inquiry last December, almost a year after Desmond fatally shot himself and his mother, wife and 10-year-old daughter in Upper Big Tracadie, N.S.

Desmond was diagnosed with PTSD after two harrowing tours in Afghanistan in 2007.

The inquiry will also look at whether health care and social services providers who interacted with Desmond were trained to recognize occupational stress injuries or domestic violence.

The date for the inquiry has not been announced, but it will be held in Guysborough, N.S., near the community where the deaths occurred.

A judge and Crown lawyer have not yet been appointed.