Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01567 · Session 4

Investigating unascertained deaths, suicides and fatal accidents

Closed Submitted 15 Apr 2015 Justice
Signatures
0
1,716 online signatures with a country
Comments
124
Considered
10 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to change the law and procedures in regards to investigating unascertained deaths, suicides and fatal accidents in Scotland.

What the petitioner did first

I have raised my concerns about this issue with my local MSP, who wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on my behalf.
I have also contacted Police Scotland and made a freedom of information request to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
My own son’s death was categorised as ‘unascertained’ and, as such, I have personal experience of how difficult it is in the current system to convince the authorities to review, or reopen, a case where the initial investigations have been unable to categorically determine the cause of death.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 12 May 2015
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 19 May 2015
    Justice Committee
    Petition
    1 mention
  3. 22 Sep 2015
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  4. 29 Sep 2015
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  5. 5 Jan 2016
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  6. 23 Feb 2016
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    2 mentions
  7. 27 Sep 2016
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  8. 24 Jan 2017
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  9. 2 May 2017
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention
  10. 5 Sep 2017
    Justice Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

1,716 online signatures
  1. Scotland1,402 81.7%
  2. United Kingdom159 9.3%
  3. England87 5.1%
  4. Northern Ireland16 0.9%
  5. United States15 0.9%
  6. Wales6 0.3%
  7. Canada4 0.2%
  8. Malta4 0.2%
  9. Ireland4 0.2%
  10. Sweden3 0.2%
  11. 13 other countries16 0.9%

Comments

124 comments, oldest first
124 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Mary Mort 14 Apr 2015
    Hope this helps Donna and family
  2. Claire OHalloran 14 Apr 2015
    I lost my very close cousin through an incident we still have barely any answers to. Family's need answers and they need more care for when they are going through such trauma! Change the laws and be heard just like our loved ones wanted us to do!
  3. Katie Cunningham 14 Apr 2015
    No explanation means no dignity for the deceased and no closure for the family. It's only fair that Police do all they can to find the cause. Also there needs to be more tolerance with young "binge drinkers"
    - we've all been there
    - bouncers etc should be more empathetic not angry
    - this would save more than half of disappearances that start on a night out!

    It's broken my heart following David's story and seeing how hard his mother is fighting for what's right. Stay strong guys x
  4. Elizabeth Paterson 14 Apr 2015
    I think everyone should have the right to know the truth behind their loved ones death
  5. Scott McCallum 14 Apr 2015
    I feel all deaths in Scotland should be thoroughly investigated to establish the circumstances and provide closure for families who have lost a loved one.
  6. Diane Connor 14 Apr 2015
    It is vital this changes!
  7. Gail robertson 14 Apr 2015
    Keep this page open.
  8. Natalie Anderson 14 Apr 2015
    Signed :)
  9. alistair mcdougall 14 Apr 2015
    This law must change.
  10. jane taylor 14 Apr 2015
    Time to change.
  11. Maria Jansson 14 Apr 2015
    Absolutely, the Police, forensic experts and other authorities involved should treat the loved ones death in suspicious circumstances as suspicious until proven otherwise, also when the evidence is not enough to point the cause of death as A)Accident, B) Suicide or C) Result of a Crime, the loved ones death should be open up on a regular basis and the DNA findings and other evidence ought to be put in register that have regular matches through the years to come!
    I lost my best friend and I have fought for soon to be 10 years with the family and we strongly believe that we have a lot of evidence that points to C) As a result of a crime. However we have up until now been denied to have her sudden and mysterious death in suspicious circumstances reopened and properly investigated.
  12. Amanda Donnelly 14 Apr 2015
    Terrible that inquests are not held in Scotland of deaths are unexplained
  13. Malcolm mc Dougall 14 Apr 2015
    Having been directly affected by the lack of this law being in place,God forbid it happens to yours,LOVED ONES NEED ANSWERS.
  14. Nicola Maloy 14 Apr 2015
    Change the law!!
  15. Carol Smith 14 Apr 2015
    I absolutely support this campaign to treat these deaths as suspicious until proven otherwise. It's the only decent option and what these unfortunate people deserve.
  16. Jennifer hasell 14 Apr 2015
    Signed
  17. pauline glen 14 Apr 2015
    Hope law is changed
  18. Angela Campbell 14 Apr 2015
    In support of Donna O'Halloran's petition.
  19. Wilma Howat 15 Apr 2015
    For Michael & all of the lost.....x
  20. Arlene Robertson 15 Apr 2015
    Signed in support of Donna
  21. Ruth Sutherland 15 Apr 2015
    Signed , Donna xx
  22. michele o'halloran 15 Apr 2015
    this page is not letting me sign it is only a thank you page
  23. Margaret mcarthur 15 Apr 2015
    signed donna xx
  24. marymccrorie 15 Apr 2015
    Signed Donna xx.
  25. Yvonne Rochfort 15 Apr 2015
    Signed Donna xxx
  26. Susann McGilvray 15 Apr 2015
    This is too important an issue to ignore.
  27. Dea Fairlie 15 Apr 2015
    Signed x
  28. Irene McNicol 15 Apr 2015
    signed Donna xx
  29. Alison Blair 15 Apr 2015
    signed xxx
  30. Irene McNicol 15 Apr 2015
    signed Donna x
  31. Ryan Donker 15 Apr 2015
    America is behind you.
  32. Lee Jamieson 15 Apr 2015
    Agree and signed xxx
  33. Kate Cassidy 15 Apr 2015
    I have signed Donna xxx
  34. Elsie Giudici 16 Apr 2015
    I have signed ,Donna
  35. Debbie McCrorie 16 Apr 2015
    No families should be left with questions unanswered. Please change the law to make sure that this happens
  36. Mary Young 16 Apr 2015
    There is something very wrong with a system which effectively makes victims, in perpetuity, of the families of those who die under these circumstances
  37. Shellie Correia 16 Apr 2015
    It is cruel, and inhumane, to leave the loved ones of the dead, to grieve, never knowing why they have lost their relative or friend..
  38. Rosemary ferguson 16 Apr 2015
    To the Scottish Parliament Cabinet, if England can do it why can't we ?
  39. Michelle Sheridan 16 Apr 2015
    signed and will share xx
  40. Trisha Turner 16 Apr 2015
    Signed Donna.
  41. Jean Connor 16 Apr 2015
    Signed as I have adult children who think they too are invincible. RIP Karen Buckley.
  42. steph wallace 16 Apr 2015
    Signed Donna.
    Heres hoping this can bring justice for many families xx
  43. Sarah Aitchison 16 Apr 2015
    please change this law
  44. M Wilson 16 Apr 2015
    I am surprised to learn that investigations in Scotland do not follow the international norm. Time to change that, and fast!
  45. Siobhan McBurnie 16 Apr 2015
    Would never wish this on anyone. Please take not government. Don't allow families to be heartbroken & not knowing!
  46. Sheena Oakes 16 Apr 2015
    Signed, I really hope it does some good xx
  47. Dawn philbin 16 Apr 2015
    System stinks something be done... Xxx
  48. Nikki perry 16 Apr 2015
    count me in hun x
  49. mhairi macgregor 16 Apr 2015
    Signed
  50. Jill Kernan 16 Apr 2015
    so admire your determination to keep your work moving forward Donna, through everything you've suffered. The law MUST change. Questions MUST. BE ANSWERED. always, no matter the circumstance.