Trust's apology to O'Neil family

Madeleine O'Neill had developed an acute psychiatric illness in May 2005 which required both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

She relapsed and was admitted to Knockbracken Health Care Park in June. Four days later, she was transferred to Gransha Hospital, where she remained until her release following a two-week stay.

Mrs O'Neill and her nine-year-old daughter Lauren were found dead in their home at Manse Road, Carryduff, in July 2005.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Western Health and Social Care Trust accepted the death of Lauren should never have occurred.

The authorities' expressions of remorse formed part of the settlement of two civil actions where they admitted negligence and breach of statutory duty, and agreed to pay five-figure damages and costs to Mrs O'Neill's family and her estranged husband John O'Neill.

Inquests into the two deaths, which were due to open next week, will not now take place.

Before she killed herself the 41-year-old had told health professionals she thought about killing both herself and her daughter.

At a previous preliminary hearing it was disclosed that she used an internet search engine to find information on how to end her life and that of her child.

Her former husband John O'Neill said at the time he had no idea she had told doctors she might harm Lauren. The first he had known was months after they died, when police told him they had found it in Madeleine's medical notes.

Following the settlement of his lawsuit and another brought by Mrs O'Neill's family, the trusts issued their apology at Belfast Coroners Court, setting out their failings in detail.

"During the course of her treatment Madeleine O'Neill made disclosures to some of those treating her that she intended to take her own life and that of Lauren O'Neill," the statement said.

"The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Western Health and Social Care Trust accept that there was a failure to act properly or appropriately on these disclosures so as to ensure that all relevant arrangements were put in place for the protection of Lauren.

"They further accept that there was a failure to inform John O'Neill of the content of any of these disclosures at any time prior to Lauren's death with the consequence that John O'Neill, at no time, had any knowledge or reason to suspect that the life of his daughter was at risk.

"The trusts accept that these failures were inexcusable and resulted in Lauren being left exposed to the forseeable risk of harm from Madeleine, who remained psychiatrically unwell."

Both authorities accepted "unconditionally and unreservedly" their failings over a large number of serious allegations made by Mr O'Neill about his wife's treatment.

It was stressed that since the deaths both authorities have worked to ensure no such tragedy can be allowed to happen again.

A full independent review of the circumstances surrounding Mrs O'Neill's treatment and communication failures has been carried out, with all findings accepted unequivocally by both trusts.

Mr O'Neill, who was in court for the apology, declined to comment afterwards.