Sally Keeble MP rightly raises urgent questions about the death in custody of the child Gareth Myatt, aged 15.
Ms Keeble comments: "It is easy to say lessons must be learned - it is almost trite." It isn't "almost trite". It is trite. Time and time again, following deaths in custody, we hear the expression that lessons must be (or will be) learned. The words have become meaningless.
One member of staff at the children's prison where Gareth died said: "I did not know someone who could speak could be dying of asphyxia". Such ignorance is alarming, and one can only hope the person concerned is no longer allowed to work with children who are in the 'care' of the State.
When my teenage daughter died in the so-called care of Styal young offender institution in 2003, she, too, was speaking when she was dying. In fact, as she was dying, she threatened to report staff to her solicitor and MP Stephen O'Brien. She died [prescription antidepressant drug poisoning] before she had chance to report them for their ignorance and incompetence.
Pauline Campbell
Posted on 17 Jul 2007 9:34 pm
Sally Keeble MP rightly raises urgent questions about the death in custody of the child Gareth Myatt, aged 15.
Ms Keeble comments: "It is easy to say lessons must be learned - it is almost trite." It isn't "almost trite". It is trite. Time and time again, following deaths in custody, we hear the expression that lessons must be (or will be) learned. The words have become meaningless.
One member of staff at the children's prison where Gareth died said: "I did not know someone who could speak could be dying of asphyxia". Such ignorance is alarming, and one can only hope the person concerned is no longer allowed to work with children who are in the 'care' of the State.
When my teenage daughter died in the so-called care of Styal young offender institution in 2003, she, too, was speaking when she was dying. In fact, as she was dying, she threatened to report staff to her solicitor and MP Stephen O'Brien. She died [prescription antidepressant drug poisoning] before she had chance to report them for their ignorance and incompetence.