Teen who died watching Tipping Point suffered 'catastrophic' lack of parental control

A tragic teenager who died watching TV quiz show Tipping Point suffered a 'catastrophic' lack of parental control, an inquiry has heard.

Robyn Goldie, 13, passed away watching television while her mum Sharon Goldie, 49, went to the pub. A fatal accident inquiry at Hamilton Sheriff Court heard a number of concerns should have been raised about Robyn before her death.

Robyn had returned to Goldie's home in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, after spending eight years with her grandmother. The youngster died in July 2018 after developing peritonitis and a perforated duodenal ulcer.

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Maggie Mellon, an independent social worker who compiled two dossiers on the case, said action should have been taken after Robyn reported her mother's chaotic lifestyle which included having sex in the family home. Mellon, 70, told the inquiry she believed there had been a 'basic failure' by social workers to deal with the case.

She added: "If things had turned out well and Miss Goldie had a different lifestyle then things could have gone on but they did not and it was immediately apparent that Robyn was at risk because of the lifestyle her mum was pursuing.

"It was clear Robyn was being exposed to excessive consumption of alcohol, men visiting the house and seeing sexual activity in the home and she was upset by this, at the drinking and by her mother being out at night. There was clear evidence that there was not a huge change in the circumstances that would make it clear that Miss Goldie would do a good or reasonable job.

"There was a failure in the application of basic social work practice of having an assessment carried out to decide what action to take and there were early indications here that all was not well and it seemed that the council had decided there was no risk or a minimal risk and what was needed was family support.

"Having made that decision a lot then followed from that because they were not looking for risk and the support workers were following their practice which was to keep this kid at home and give the parent stronger parenting skills and that was the wrong approach."

The inquiry head Robyn had been referred to the Children's Reporter because of a lack of 'parental control'.

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But Mellon said she had already suffered 'significant harm' which should have been taken into account. She commented: "Even at that point Robyn had suffered significant harm with rape, sexual assault and various other harms and it was still being attributed to Robyn as if she was beyond control but as we found out at the trial, she had suffered from a catastrophic lack of parental control."

Mellon concluded Robyn's death was 'avoidable and preventable' because medical treatment would have saved her life. She said social work policy had not been 'followed' which meant a 'basic standard' which families should expect had not been met when concerns about a child were raised.

The probe heard earlier that North Lanarkshire Council had ordered a significant case review in the wake of Robyn's death and had changed social work practices.

Goldie, of Kilsyth, Lanarkshire, admitted wilful ill treatment and neglect between July 2017 and July 2018 and was jailed for three years and six months in 2020.

Sheriff Linda Nicolson said she will hear final inquiry submissions next year before a judgment is issued and thanked witnesses for giving evidence to the probe.

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