SUICIDE GIRL’S PARENTS BLAST INQUIRY
Parents of suicide teen criticise Fatal Accident Inquiry, saying outcome could lead to tragedy for other families
THE parents of a schoolgirl who took her own life at a children’s home have branded an inquiry a “whitewash” after it said no lessons can be learned from the tragedy.
Kirsty McGregor, 13, died three months after being taken into temporary care at Dunclutha Children’s Home in Dunoon, Argyll, in 2016.
Her parents Judith and David McGregor told a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) there had been “several failings” behind Kirsty’s death.
The couple said they thought she would be safe at Dunclutha after reaching “breaking point” over the troubled teen’s self-harming and interest in suicide sites.
But yesterday they told of their grief after being issued with a judgment which made no recommendations in relation to the case.
David said: “It is a whitewash and the same tragedy that befell us will likely happen to families in the future.
“A child died in their care yet the authorities say, ‘We don’t need to learn anything’. To say it was unforeseen is nonsense and wrong.
“When we took her down to Dunclutha, the social worker said, ‘At least you’ll know she’ll be safe there and she’ll be monitored 24/7’.
“The words stick in my head. She was not monitored. She had tried this before and still they did nothing.
“This was somebody who was at threat of suicide yet they say the child has to express that themselves. Kirsty was only there because she was a risk.” Kirsty, who was adopted as a baby and lived in the village of Ford, with her parents and brother, was placed in “emergency” care at the Argyll and
Bute Council-run home. Her parents raised concerns with social workers over their ability to cope with her behaviour.
On December 30, 2016, the Lochgilpead High School pupil had watched TV in the home’s lounge before going to her room, where she was found unresponsive by a staff member during a check about 30 minutes later.
CPR was attempted and she was taken by ambulance to Cowal Community Hospital but nothing could be done to save her.
Lawyers for the council told the inquiry that there were “no warning signs of what was to come” and Kirsty’s death was “not foreseeable”, claiming there was no evidence that the level of monitoring at Dunclutha was inadequate.
But a tearful Judith said the claim “beggars belief ”.
The mum said Kirsty’s self-harming was not properly documented in her notes on admission to the home.
Judith also said Kirsty had also suffered from “attachment disorder”, which prevented her from forming bonds with her parents and care givers, and that the traits of the condition had not been taken seriously enough.
In his judgment, Sheriff Thomas Ward wrote: “Kirsty was a difficult child. She had many complex difficulties.
“All of them were inquired into and dealt with to the best of each professionals’ ability.”
David and Judith plan to raise the matter with Justice Secretary Keith Brown. An Argyll and Bute Council spokeswoman issued a statement saying: “Our aim will always be to do all we can for our young people.”
NHS Highland said: “We note the findings in the report and would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time.”