Ship of Fools: Theresa Riggi

Thread: Theresa Riggi Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Tulfes (# 18000) on :

A mentally ill women who killed her 3 young children in Edinburgh in 2010 has been found dead in a secure hospital in Nottinghamshire after, apparently, taking her own life. A coroner's inquest is to take place.

At the time of the trial in Scotland, it was apparent that the woman was deeply troubled. She was American, living alone in Scotland with her children and going through a difficult divorce from her husband who worked in the oil industry. She was convicted of culpable homicide (=manslaughter) on the ground of diminished responsibility.

All deeply distressing. Meanwhile the tabloid press are gleefully reporting her death on a "good riddance" basis.

These are not "private" concerns. The accused committed appalling crimes and was convicted in the public interest. She died while supposedly in the care of the State ie our care.

Can we do anything except wring our hands and try not to think about it?

Posted by deano (# 12063) on :

I go past Rampton on the way to Skegness. Just off the A1. Near Dunham Bridge.

Posted by Enoch (# 14322) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Tulfes:
... Can we do anything except wring our hands and try not to think about it?

Sadly, probably not. Not everything can either be solved or prevented.

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :

Tulfes,

What action are we supposed to be considering?

Posted by Tulfes (# 18000) on :

quote:
Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Tulfes,

What action are we supposed to be considering?

I don't know. I thought someone else might have some suggestion(s) [Confused]

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

Just to add - she intended to kill herself at the same time as her children, and very nearly succeeded - she did not intend to live after her children's death. I don't know why it seems important to add that, but somehow it does.

Posted by Tulfes (# 18000) on :

quote:
Originally posted by North East Quine:
Just to add - she intended to kill herself at the same time as her children, and very nearly succeeded - she did not intend to live after her children's death. I don't know why it seems important to add that, but somehow it does.

Thanks North East Quine. An important point.

Posted by hatless (# 3365) on :

What would you say to the staff who cared for her? If you were asked to take her funeral service, what would you say then?

Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :

The problem is, is someone is determined to take their own life, there is very little anyone can do to prevent them. Even in a secure institution.

That does not mean it is reasonable or valid to celebrate this. She was clearly a very troubled person, and the system - in all aspects - failed to help her.

Posted by Amos (# 44) on :

Suicide and self-harm are rampant in prisons, particularly in women's prisons, in this country. As long as the prison service is run with one eye on the tabloids and another on privatisation, it will continue to be the case.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

I don't think she was in prison.

Even with ligature audits etc, it is very difficult to prevent someone comitting suicide on a hospital ward if they are either very determined or make repeated impulsive attempts.

I am not willing to put methods up on a public forum, but would just saw that there are methods you will not have thought of that are more effective than you would expect. Prevention can end up being about levels of observation, continuous one to one eyeline observation can be very intrusive for the patient. So at some point you are going to have to make a judgement about reducing that, and there will always be an element of risk in doing so.

[ 11. March 2014, 19:11: Message edited by: Doublethink ]

Posted by Martin PC not & Ship's Biohazard (# 368) on :

She rests in peace and will rise to complete healing at the beginning of eternity with her children and us all.

God is THAT powerful.

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