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MP in bridge deaths inquiry call Agency 'may raise bridge barrier'
(about 6 hours 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. Raising the barrier along the Erskine Bridge is being "actively" considered, after two teenagers leapt from the crossing 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. Neve Lafferty, 15, from Helensburgh, and Georgia Rowe, 14, from Hull, jumped into the River Clyde on Sunday night.
Neve Lafferty, 15, from Helensburgh, and Georgia Rowe, 14, from Hull, leapt more than 100ft into the river. Transport Scotland said it would now consider putting up higher barriers along the full length of the bridge.
The girls attended the Good Shepherd Centre in Bishopton, Renfrewshire. Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond said any lessons arising from the incident would be learned.
Transport Scotland said it regularly reviewed safety at major bridges and that earlier this year a feasibility study into the Erskine Bridge parapet was carried out.
A statement said: "This report looked at previous safety improvements, other major bridges in the UK and overseas and reviewed a number of options.
Everything that needs to be found out about this tragedy will be found out Alex SalmondFirst Minister
"In the light of recent tragic events Transport Scotland will be actively considering if the additional measures and options in the report should be developed to provide an improved barrier height along the full length of the bridge, along with a review of other mitigation measures."
The agency added that CCTV had been installed and had proved effective in helping to avoid possible suicide attempts, as it allowed staff to alert police to suspicious activity and meant officers could intervene to try to deter people from jumping.
Neve Lafferty and Georgia Rowe 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. 'Apparently happy'
He said: "The relatives and friends of these young girls will be suffering unimaginable horror and grief. Local MP Jim Sheridan called for an inquiry to look into how the girls were able to leave the unit before jumping from the bridge on Sunday.
"They will want to know exactly what happened and why a tragedy of this nature took place. He said: "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. The Catholic Church will work as fully as it possibly can with those who are carrying out the investigation into what might have happened Cardinal Keith O'Brien
"People here really are in shock that something so terrible could happen. But the first minister told the BBC: "There is a full quota of inquiries to take place, from the Care Commission, Social Work Examiners in Scotland and the Lord Advocate will have to decide on a fatal accident inquiry in the next few days.
"My heart goes out to all those touched by this." "That's the way in which to approach this because among all of these inquiries, everything that needs to be found out about this tragedy will be found out.
Jim Sheridan wants to see better fencing on the Erskine Bridge "If there are lessons to learn on any aspect then lessons will be taken on board an learned."
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader, Annabel Goldie, has said that she is "devastated" at the tragedy. The Good Shepherd Centre cares for young girls referred to the centre by local authority educational and psychological services, social work departments and children's hearings.
Ms Goldie, who lives nearby in Bishopton, has visited the Good Shepherd centre several times and praised its reputation. It is affiliated to the Cora Foundation, a non-profit-making company owned by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland.
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. 'Awful loss'
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.
'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.
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 later noticed they were missing.
The girls' bodies were recovered from the river after a search involving the emergency services and the Ministry of Defence. Cardinal Keith O'Brien said the deaths were "a terrible tragedy and an awful loss of young life".
The Good Shepherd Centre is located close to the Erskine Bridge He added: "I obviously don't know the circumstances through which the girls were in residential care and I know nothing at all about what might have caused them to commit suicide.
Argyll and Bute Council said it would launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the "distressing case". "But I can assure you that the Catholic Church will work as fully as it possibly can with those who are carrying out the investigation into what might have happened to put additional stress on these girls."
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.
"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."
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.