A desperate search is underway to trace a missing Scots gran who vanished in a black Kia Venga car.
14.03.2024 - 15:31 / dailyrecord.co.uk
A mother threatened to harm her Down's Syndrome daughter to force authorities to become involved because she was so desperate following the withdrawal of social work support during the pandemic, an inquiry has heard.
Eddie McConnell, chief executive of Down's Syndrome Scotland, told the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry the woman was "absolutely at the end of her tether" and felt the only way to get help was to do something "quite disastrous".
He told the inquiry many families felt a "lifeline" was withdrawn when they were told social care services could no longer be provided when the pandemic began, and many were left "on their knees" trying to navigate the pandemic on their own.
The inquiry heard the nature of calls to Down's Syndrome Scotland changed from pre-pandemic when they were generally about the condition itself, to being about issues such as stress, anxiety and financial concerns.
Faryma Bahrami, junior counsel to the inquiry, asked Mr McConnell to expand on his evidence about the mother.
He said: "We would never pass judgment on somebody that was so desperate that she was getting no support, in that person's case from social work, and felt that the only way to get that support was to do something quite disastrous, to in a sense invoke statutory involvement in her family, because her view was nobody was responding to her pleas for help so she took that really desperate measure and we absolutely do not have any judgment on that.
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have
A desperate search is underway to trace a missing Scots gran who vanished in a black Kia Venga car.
A young mum-of-one has been diagnosed with two cancers within four weeks - one of which is incurable - but says that she 'won't be beaten' by the disease.
An Edinburgh woman has shared her struggle to get a diagnosis for a rare medical condition after suffering from severe mental health symptoms for twelve years.
A mum was left furious after the garden at her newbuild home turned into a swamp - and her young son and dogs got the blame. Ellis Reid, 32, moved into the social house in Dundonald, Ayrshire, August 2022 with her five-year-old son, Landon, and partner Douglas Horn, 43.
An East Lothian mum whose baby was sick claims she had to phone her GP 650 times to try to get an appointment - only for her to be told to try again tomorrow.
The mum of an Aberdeen man who died in jail has hit out after an investigation into his death was delayed again.
Shocking footage has shown the moment a large group of youths were seen paddling in a muddy loch with rats while locals shouted at them to get out.
Humza Yousaf has been told by the mum of a sick child to get a grip of the crisis in the NHS after her son faced a three-year wait for life-changing surgery.
A balaclava-clad gang left a man seriously injured after forcing their way into his home during a 'targeted' attack.
A Scots man has been jailed for a horror double axe attack on a group of terrified families at a holiday resort.
When it comes to home improvement, we all want to make our spaces look amazing whilst spending the least amount of money.
A team of volunteers who helped find the body of a Scots dad killed in a fishing accident have received a ‘game-changing’ search device. The family of Greig Stoddart, who died on Christmas Eve, gathered at Gartmorn Dam, Alloa, on Saturday to watch as the AquaEye kit was formally presented to Beneath the Surface.
A Scots health board has been targeted in a "focused and ongoing" cyber attack.
A Scots midwife and mum-of-five recently took part in the delivery her own grandchild.
A social worker is behind bars for a string of depraved sex attacks on three women. Thomas Proctor preyed on his victims – including using his position to threaten to have the children of two of them removed from their care.
A Scots mum has told how her whole life was "shattered" after discovering her seven-year-old son had a brain tumour following a routine MRI scan.
A mum and daughter completely transformed their lives after agreeing to try and lose weight together. Liz Stratchan began avoiding social gatherings due to feeling self-conscious about her size, while her eldest daughter Cheryl Fowler burst into teaers after stepping on the scales at a medical appointment.
Police have raced to a Scots street after reports of an "XL bully" incident.
Police have released CCTV images of a missing man's last movements as they continue their searches in Caithness.
A Scots mum was forced to go online to get an autism diagnosis for her son after waiting years to get an NHS assessment.