FAI into death of teenager delayed again after six-year wait

Sophie Parkinson's mother said the decision, which is due to the coronavirus outbreak, is 'depressing'.

FAI into death of teenager delayed again after six-year wait STV

A Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of a 13-year-old from Tayside has been delayed again, due to coronavirus.

Sophie Parkinson took her own life in March 2014 after looking at online ‘suicide guides’.

Her mother Ruth Moss said today: “It’s completely understandable but I can’t say I’m not disappointed.

“After six years of waiting, more waiting for an indeterminate amount of time is just depressing.”

The long-awaited FAI has been delayed numerous times and comes amid critiscism that lengthy waits for FAIs in Scotland add to the grief of bereaved families.

Sophie died at the family home in Liff on the outskirts of Dundee.

After several recent preliminary hearings, and a previous start date in January, the inquiry was finally due to start on Monday.

It was expected to focus on the care she received from the NHS before the tragedy.

The teenager first sought help from mental health services when she was seven.

Mrs Moss has previously blamed NHS Tayside for her daughter’s death and claims Sophie would be alive had she received better care.

She said earlier suicide attempts had been dismissed by the health board as “childish cries for help” and NHS Tayside’s Child and Adolescent Health Services had not provided enough support to her daughter.

The investigation, at Dundee Sheriff Court, is being held after the Lord Advocate, ruled it should be held as Sophie’s death gives rise to “serious public concern”.

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