Calling Every Parent In Scotland

Big Wullie · Calling Every Parent In Scotland

Sheriff John Horsburgh's comments regarding the death of Danielle Scott amounts to nothing but sheer contempt.

His outburst that her parents encouraged her to believe she was mentally ill is nothing but Scurrilous and an affront to every decent parent in Scotland who all want the very best for their children.

I cannot envisage a situation where I would call on authorities to lock any of my children up for their own safety.

I cannot envisage asking authorities even to lock up my children for any reason, So this move should have shown those Lorraine Scott Begged and Pleaded with that something terrible was wrong with her daughter, How else would she have asked them for help.

The mere fact they placed her in Howden-Hell shows they took some of the parents pleas seriously but obviously not seriously enough to keep a better eye on Poor Danielle, If only they had listened to the family.

I would call on every decent Parent in the Uk (not only Scotland) to call for this Sherriff to resign over his Scurrilous attack on this poor Family.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-...ath-inquiry-findings/#comment-835

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

Danielle Scott, 17, was in the care of Howdenhall Young Persons' Unit in Edinburgh at the time of her death, but had absconded from the unit when she took the drug in February 2005.

Last week, following a Fatal Accident Inquiry in 2008 that lasted for 42 days, Sheriff John Horsburgh criticised her parents and found that Danielle had been given "appropriate" care.

The sheriff 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.

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

In his written determination the sheriff said that the care the teenager received was "entirely appropriate"

But Danielle's mother Lorraine Scott, 48, criticised the findings and the system which she claims failed her daughter.

She said: "Our hearts are broken and it feels like we`ve lost her all over again.

"We are still in shock since hearing the outcome of our daughter's Fatal Accident Inquiry.

"It would appear to be one-sided and unnecessarily harsh and critical of her family and two medical expert witnesses.

"I feel the report does not reflect the 43 days of evidence which were heard in court."

Mrs Scott said she had warned authorities that Danielle would end up dead if she was not given proper medical care.

She said: "We were her family, we knew she was unwell, we could see that she needed help.

"I warned people that she'd end up dead.

"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."

She also slammed the sheriff's decision to "dismiss" the findings of two doctors during the inquiry. Mrs Scott said: "The two medical expert witnesses evidence suggested that Danielle suffered from bipolar disorder which had gone undiagnosed by those involved in her care. Yet the sheriff criticised them."

In 2006, 27-year-old Peter Meaney was jailed for culpable homicide after he admitted giving Danielle alcohol and methadone.

Last updated: 07 August 2009, 13:50

Anyone wishing to complain should address their letters to Lord Hamilton at Edinburgh High Court Of Judiciary, Parliament Square, Edinburgh.

RIP Danielle

Lydia

Great post Wullie and I could not agree with you more.

How these parents have stayed sane i have no idea.

To go through the situation where your child takes drugs must be mind bending, to know they have an undiagnosed mental health problem and can get no help, I don't think any of us can put our self in that place.

To then be criticized by a sheriff with a rapier sharp tongue but no intelligence defies all reason.

Someone should have asked him what more she could have done and then jailed the people who cost her daughter her life by not helping her. A severe reprimand would not do the Sheriff any harm, he may not be so quick to add to a parents pain.

Big Wullie

Hi Lydia

Thanks for the support.

This case above all else makes me want to scream for two reason's

1. As a parent I have every sympathy with this Family

2. The Judges comments are damn right out of order.

What right does he have to make such scurrilous comments to any parent who fought the Authorities, Begged and Pleaded with them for help, and was failed in the end by the death of her much loved and cherished Daughter ?

I feel every decent parent in Scotland should be up in arms at the comments by Sheriff Horsburgh.

Perhaps the time has come for a massive protest to let these Judges know this type of comment will not be tolerated.

Had the experts been giving evidence for the Crown would Mr Horsburgh have accepted their evidence as truthfull.

I want to know exactly what he thinks wrong with their evidence considering one is still listed as an expert witness on thwe Law Society website here:

Dr Robert Wrate can be found last on the list here:

http://www.expertwitnessscotland....=FAMILY/CHILD%20ISSUES/PSYCHOLOGY

He seems more qualified than the judge to decide if Danielle was suffering any mental health problems.

After all the Judge himself never met Danielle and is only looking at documents, yet he criticises the experts for doing the same.

The Judge is a disgrace to the bench and should be asked to resign.

Failure to do so should result in a massive protest to the high court in Edinburgh calling for his resignation

Lydia

He speaks in one article about the arrogance of an expert witness it is his arrogance that should come under scrutiny.

I wish something could be done legally for this Mum but as I have discovered to my cost before, we in Scotland cannot sue the crown and don't they know it.

Pathologists carrying out post mortems under the auspices of the crown services could use anything from a body they wanted to and do illegal post mortems and were saved from prosecution. Not a healthy situation in a democracy.

Big Wullie

Lydia

The Judge is Independent and not part of the prosecution, Though it almost always seems as if hie is working for the Prosecution.

Judges are not above complaint whereas the Crown are.

I have never heard of anyone being able to complain about the Lord Advocate perhaps because they have Absolute Immunity.

He commented that an Expert Witness, made perjorative comments, so what does he consider Perjorative, and like Tommy Sheridan's case will there be charges brought against this expert for Perjury ?

Lydia

Do you really think that it is possible the witness could be charged with perjury considering that the judge is also working from the same written evidence as the expert witness.

When you look at this situation dispassionately it seems that the conflict lies with a difference of opinion.

I did not know that about judges I thought they were immune from prosecution over their decisions.

I do not mean that i thought that if for instance they were caught drunk and driving a car or committed murder they would be immune from prosecution.

Big Wullie

Tommy Sheridan is being prosecuted because of a Judges remarks about Perjury.

This Judge should be called to account for his actions and in particular his comments about expert witness's.

His comments about the Parents deserves to be treated with serious contempt as I have never heard anything so Scurrilous and Obnoxious coming from a Judge.

He obviously has no children nor compassion.

Lydia

It is a disgusting situation, these parents without this rant by a judge will put themselves through years of guilty feelings, wondering if they could have fought harder for their daughter, no matter how hard you try as a parent you always blame yourself if something goes wrong with the life of your child especially if they die.

Most parents in their situation would be in counselling with someone trying to make them see you can only support your children and try you’re hardest to guide their life. This mother particularly went the extra mile for her daughter.

How she must have felt asking to have her daughter locked up, I can only try to imagine. You are right when you say that this judge may not have children, he seems very insensitive to how this mother must have felt tormented at her inability to protect her daughter.

Parents countrywide will understand that you can put your heart and soul into being a parent but some children will come under the influence of other people, some will decide to ignore what you teach and some like this girl will end up with mental health issues, which need treatment, and will not be treated, even when a parent begs.

Big Wullie

Lydia

I look at this from a different angle.

They were parents who trusted the Authorities who eventuallly killed their child.

How they must be feeling having put their daughter into the care of the system who let them down very badly indeed.

They must be thinking if they hadn't done this their Daughter might still be alive.

Will this not put other parents off in the future from seeking help for their offspring with mental health problems if these places cannot be trusted to look after them.