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| MP in bridge deaths inquiry call | MP in bridge deaths inquiry call |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An MP has called for an inquiry into the deaths of two teenage girls who jumped from the Erskine Bridge over the Clyde in an apparent suicide pact. | An MP has called for an inquiry into the deaths of two teenage girls who jumped from the Erskine Bridge over the Clyde in an apparent suicide pact. |
| Jim Sheridan, the member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has questioned how the girls were able to leave a young person's unit unsupervised. | Jim Sheridan, the member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has questioned how the girls were able to leave a young person's unit unsupervised. |
| Neve Lafferty, 15, from Helensburgh, and Georgia Rowe, 14, from Hull, leapt more than 100ft into the river. | Neve Lafferty, 15, from Helensburgh, and Georgia Rowe, 14, from Hull, leapt more than 100ft into the river. |
| The girls attended the Good Shepherd Centre in Bishopton, Renfrewshire. | The girls attended the Good Shepherd Centre in Bishopton, Renfrewshire. |
| They were among nine live-in residents at the centre's open unit, which also has 21 day girls who live in foster or care homes. | They were among nine live-in residents at the centre's open unit, which also has 21 day girls who live in foster or care homes. |
| Mr Sheridan said an inquiry should look into how the girls were able to leave the unit before jumping from the bridge at about 2100 BST on Sunday. | Mr Sheridan said an inquiry should look into how the girls were able to leave the unit before jumping from the bridge at about 2100 BST on Sunday. |
| He said: "The relatives and friends of these young girls will be suffering unimaginable horror and grief. | He said: "The relatives and friends of these young girls will be suffering unimaginable horror and grief. |
| "They will want to know exactly what happened and why a tragedy of this nature took place. | "They will want to know exactly what happened and why a tragedy of this nature took place. |
| "It is important to see both an internal and police inquiry to answer questions and explain the events. | "It is important to see both an internal and police inquiry to answer questions and explain the events. |
| "People here really are in shock that something so terrible could happen. | "People here really are in shock that something so terrible could happen. |
| "My heart goes out to all those touched by this." | "My heart goes out to all those touched by this." |
| Jim Sheridan wants to see better fencing on the Erskine Bridge | Jim Sheridan wants to see better fencing on the Erskine Bridge |
| Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader, Annabel Goldie, has said that she is "devastated" at the tragedy. | Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader, Annabel Goldie, has said that she is "devastated" at the tragedy. |
| Ms Goldie, who lives nearby in Bishopton, has visited the Good Shepherd centre several times and praised its reputation. | Ms Goldie, who lives nearby in Bishopton, has visited the Good Shepherd centre several times and praised its reputation. |
| She warned against making any quick reactions regarding security at the Erskine Bridge and said decisions should not be taken until all the facts were known. | She warned against making any quick reactions regarding security at the Erskine Bridge and said decisions should not be taken until all the facts were known. |
| The Good Shepherd Centre is an independent unit owned and managed by its own voluntary board of managers. | The Good Shepherd Centre is an independent unit owned and managed by its own voluntary board of managers. |
| The centre has three sections - an open unit, a secure unit and the St Francis Day Unit. | The centre has three sections - an open unit, a secure unit and the St Francis Day Unit. |
| 'Happy' weekend | 'Happy' weekend |
| It cares for young girls referred to the centre by local authority educational and psychological services, social work departments and children's hearings. | It cares for young girls referred to the centre by local authority educational and psychological services, social work departments and children's hearings. |
| Pupils at the open unit are not supervised around the clock but any outing requires authorisation. No authorisation was given for the girls to leave on Sunday evening. | Pupils at the open unit are not supervised around the clock but any outing requires authorisation. No authorisation was given for the girls to leave on Sunday evening. |
| A centre spokesman said they had been on "apparently happy and productive" weekend outings with relatives and were seen by staff in their pyjamas going to their rooms to watch television. | A centre spokesman said they had been on "apparently happy and productive" weekend outings with relatives and were seen by staff in their pyjamas going to their rooms to watch television. |
| Staff carrying out routine checks noticed they were missing. | Staff carrying out routine checks noticed they were missing. |
| The girls' bodies were recovered from the river after a search involving the emergency services and the Ministry of Defence. | The girls' bodies were recovered from the river after a search involving the emergency services and the Ministry of Defence. |
| The Good Shepherd Centre is located close to the Erskine Bridge | The Good Shepherd Centre is located close to the Erskine Bridge |
| Argyll and Bute Council said it would launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the "distressing case". | Argyll and Bute Council said it would launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the "distressing case". |
| Strathclyde Police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths. | Strathclyde Police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths. |
| Mr Sheridan also called for more security measures to be installed on the bridge. | Mr Sheridan also called for more security measures to be installed on the bridge. |
| "There are far too many deaths," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme. | "There are far too many deaths," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme. |
| "I think we need to look at some sort of fencing that stops people from doing this." | "I think we need to look at some sort of fencing that stops people from doing this." |
| The Samaritans have four telephones on the bridge to try to encourage people who might be thinking about suicide to get in touch. | The Samaritans have four telephones on the bridge to try to encourage people who might be thinking about suicide to get in touch. |
| The charity encouraged anyone who was feeling suicidal to talk about their feelings, either with friends or family, or to call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90. | The charity encouraged anyone who was feeling suicidal to talk about their feelings, either with friends or family, or to call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90. |