Hanged girl's warning

A TEENAGER in care committed suicide after warning Children Board staff that she was going to hang herself, a Royal Court inquest heard yesterday. An independent inquiry has been launched into the death of 15-year-old Leanne Cowley who was found hanged in her room at Le Carrefour Adolescent Resource Centre early on 28 December 2002. She had been drinking and chatting at a friend's house at Les Genats before going on to another friend's flat in Town, where she continued drinking. In the early hours she and others were told to leave because of the noise; Miss Cowley started to trash the bedroom, pulling her friend's hair and scratching her. She left and police found her in a shop doorway crying hysterically. Miss Cowley told them she would rather assault an officer to get locked up in a police cell than go back to Le Carrefour. Police decided they could not leave her on the streets and, back at the care home, she became agitated and abusive. She said she was sick of drinking and wanted to stop taking drugs. She demanded to see her social worker, who was not on duty, threatened to hang herself and warned that staff had better check her every 15 minutes. Miss Cowley, who pulled down Christmas decorations and said she hated Le Carrefour, went to her first-floor room. Staff did not feel her behaviour was out of the ordinary. The court had heard that she had threatened suicide before. But she was later found hanging behind the door by a woman on 'night wake' duty. A sleeve was around her neck but there was no note. Two UK experts' statements indicated that although she had drunk alcohol and taken up to 10 Ecstasy tablets, there was insufficient evidence to attribute her death to drink or drugs. After initially settling in at Le Carrefour, Miss Cowley had begun drinking heavily. Her behaviour worsened drastically and, although she could be friendly, she was also volatile. She had assaulted staff and young people there, the inquest was told. She was self-harming and absconded regularly. Concerns grew about her mental state, alcohol and drug abuse and plans of action were drawn up for further support and care. The last of several meetings of professional agencies and authority representatives on 20 December deemed, after legal advice, that she did not meet the criteria needed to place her in a secure unit as a short, sharp, shock punishment. But warnings were given that a careful eye should be kept on her at the residential unit. She had been adopted, but after several foster placements went into the voluntary care of the Children Board in 2001. A holiday with her birth mother in the UK fell through after their relationship deteriorated and it was decided she would stay at Le Carrefour. Staff felt she was on a self-destruct course and wanted to be stopped, the court heard. Lt-Bailiff Chris Day recorded a suicide verdict at yesterday's resumed inquest that heard evidence from six witnesses and 28 statements. The Children Board has instigated an inquiry, which is currently being undertaken, chaired by The Bridge Consultancy. In its 19 years it has conducted more than 45 inquiries in the UK following the deaths of children in the care or under local authority supervision. It is looking at every contact that States agencies had with Miss Cowley, and will make recommendations about their practices, policies and procedures. 'The detailed reports will of necessity, remain confidential to those agencies directly involved with Leanne. During her life she was concerned about confidentiality and this must be respected, as must be the right to privacy of her family,' a statement from Children Board president Jean Pritchard said. But general findings and recommendations are expected to be made public. 'The death of a young person, particularly in these circumstances, is always tragic. Our thoughts are with Leanne's family and friends and those staff in all agencies who provided her with a great deal of care. 'Understandably, there is always concern at whether or not such a tragedy could have been prevented. This is particularly so in the case of a child who dies whilst in the care of the Children Board,' said Deputy Pritchard.