The mother of a teenager who died after being given a cocktail of alcohol and methadone has criticised the findings of an inquiry into the death.
Danielle Scott, 17, was in the care of Howdenhall Young Persons' Unit in Edinburgh at the time of her death, but had absconded from the unit when she took the drug in February 2005.
Last week, following a Fatal Accident Inquiry in 2008 that lasted for 42 days, Sheriff John Horsburgh criticised her parents and found that Danielle had been given "appropriate" care.
The sheriff said members of Miss Scott's family "encouraged her to think she was mentally ill" and became over-involved in her treatment.
He said her father Jim was "eager to blame" other people and was "very aggressive" at meetings. The sheriff also said he regarded Mrs Scott as an "unreliable witness" at times.
The sheriff also criticised two retired consultants who gave evidence to the inquiry, saying they were inclined to place too much significance on Danielle's reported statements and on the family history "without critical examination".
In his written determination the sheriff said that the care the teenager received was "entirely appropriate"
But Danielle's mother Lorraine Scott, 48, criticised the findings and the system which she claims failed her daughter.
She said: "Our hearts are broken and it feels like we`ve lost her all over again.
"We are still in shock since hearing the outcome of our daughter's Fatal Accident Inquiry.
"It would appear to be one-sided and unnecessarily harsh and critical of her family and two medical expert witnesses.
"I feel the report does not reflect the 43 days of evidence which were heard in court."
Mrs Scott said she had warned authorities that Danielle would end up dead if she was not given proper medical care.
She said: "We were her family, we knew she was unwell, we could see that she needed help.
"I warned people that she'd end up dead.
"Neither myself or Jim had any desire to label our daughter or to have to call on the Mental Health Act.
"But had it kept her safe and possibly get her a proper diagnosis then we would have been more than willing."
She also slammed the sheriff's decision to "dismiss" the findings of two doctors during the inquiry. Mrs Scott said: "The two medical expert witnesses evidence suggested that Danielle suffered from bipolar disorder which had gone undiagnosed by those involved in her care. Yet the sheriff criticised them."
In 2006, 27-year-old Peter Meaney was jailed for culpable homicide after he admitted giving Danielle alcohol and methadone.
Last updated: 07 August 2009, 13:50
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