Lampard Inquiry: Families share emotional pain and heartache at loss of loved ones
A woman whose sister texted her before taking her life is one of several families who shared heart-breaking tributes during a mental health inquiry. Parents and siblings fought back tears as they spoke of loved ones who died when receiving mental health care in Essex.
The Lampard Inquiry is investigating the deaths of people in care in Essex between 2000 and 2023. Chairwoman Baroness Kate Lampard said the number of deaths within the scope of the inquiry will be “significantly in excess of the 2,000” previously thought.
Patrick Brennan said in a commemorative statement that his son Liam, who died in August 2012, was a "talented chef" who "enjoyed the creativity and camaraderie despite the notorious environment of the kitchen".
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He told the Inquiry: "Liam and I shared a passion for sport as well as supporting Chelsea. I remember calling him after Chelsea won the Champions League final.
"I was at an event and he watched it locally in Harlow. Over the call his excitement and happiness was obvious. Our last call was when he rang to check when Usain Bolt would be running in the final of the Olympics."
Mr Brennan added: "Liam was robbed of his potential as a person. With the right help and support we thought he could find his place in the world. No parent should have to bury their child and with that their hopes and dreams."
A photograph of Liam, who died just days after his 29th birthday, was shown on screens to the Inquiry. Chairwoman Baroness Kate Lampard also watched three short TikTok videos of Abbigail Smith dancing with a young family member during a statement by her mother Lisa Wolff.
Ms Wolff described her daughter as being a "kaleidoscope of colour" who had a bond with animals and had raised large sums of money for charity. Abbigail, who was 26 when she died, had been a regular participant in "adrenaline-inducing" activities.
Her mother, who sipped regularly from glasses of water, told the Inquiry: "You actively sought out those activities and loved it. The sheer childlike delight you displayed when taking part always filled my heart with joy."
"I hope you are shining down on us smiling in delight about so many people loving and caring about you. You touched so many lives," she added.
"It breaks my heart that there will be no more memories, no more barbeques, no more movies and games, no more family. It seems totally unfair that you had to die to be safe and at peace when you could have been supported to achieve this when you were alive."
Lisa Wolff placed a framed photograph of her daughter Abbigail on the desk in front of her at the inquiry venue, along with some of her belongings. Counsellors wearing black lanyards were present to offer emotional support to attendees.
Samantha Cook told the Inquiry she had slept in and missed a text from her sister Paula that tragically said "thank you for being part of my life". Ms Cook, who had a spare key to her sister's house, recounted heading to the property where she found her sibling had hung herself.
She added: "This last image of Paula is what I see whenever I think of her instead of the happy memories. My children talk about her all the time, all the funny memories but then I catch that glimpse in my mum’s eye of sadness and helplessness and I get this overwhelming feeling that she could still be here if she just got the help she begged for."
Describing the commemorative statements, Mr Nicholas Griffin, counsel to the inquiry, said: "The evidence you will be hearing may be commemorative of a person who has died, speaking about their lives and aspirations and other memories. It may be about the impact their death had on the person making the statement."