Mother hits out at death findings

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8189025.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The mother of a teenager who died after being given a cocktail of alcohol and methadone has hit out at the findings of an inquiry into her death.

Danielle Scott was 17 when she was found dead after running away from a secure unit in Edinburgh.

Last week, a sheriff criticised her parents and said Danielle had been given "appropriate" care.

Her mother Lorraine said she had warned authorities Danielle would end up dead if she was not given proper help.

She criticised Sheriff John Horsburgh's findings of a fatal accident inquiry held last year and the system which she believes failed her daughter.

Mrs Scott, 48, from Riggend, Lanarkshire, said: "Our hearts are broken and it feels like we've lost her all over again.

Danielle has been failed yet again. This time by the so-called justice system Lorraine Scott

"We are still in shock since hearing the outcome of our daughter's fatal accident inquiry."

Danielle, who struggled with an eating disorder and depression since she was 12, was sent to a secure unit after spending more than a year in hospital.

The teenager was in Howdenhall Young Persons' Unit in Edinburgh when she absconded in February 2005, and was later found dead in the flat of a drug addict.

The following year, 27-year-old Peter Meaney was jailed for culpable homicide after admitting giving her alcohol and the heroin substitute methadone.

'Proper diagnosis'

Sheriff Horsburgh said members of Miss Scott's family "encouraged her to think she was mentally ill" and became over-involved in her treatment.

He said her father, Jim, was "eager to blame" other people and was "very aggressive" at meetings.

The sheriff also said he regarded Mrs Scott as an "unreliable witness" at times.

She sought a ruling the death might have been avoided by the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder and Danielle's return to secure accommodation.

Danielle Scott died in February 2005 after being given methadone

The sheriff also said two retired consultants who gave evidence to the inquiry were inclined to place too much significance on Danielle's reported statements and on the family history "without critical examination".

In his written determination, Sheriff Horsburgh said the care the teenager received was "entirely appropriate".

But Mrs Scott said: "Neither myself or Jim had any desire to label our daughter or to have to call on the Mental Health Act.

"But had it kept her safe and possibly get her a proper diagnosis then we would have been more than willing."

Mrs Scott said she thought Howdenhall was a "wholly inappropriate environment" for her daughter, adding: "Danielle has been failed yet again. This time by the so-called justice system."