Fatal accident inquiry to be held into death of baby who ingested narcotic in Aberdeenshire

A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death of a baby who died after ingesting a narcotic at his home in Aberdeenshire.

Olly-James Sievwright died in hospital on December 22, 2019, as a result of ingesting M-CAT combined with the effects of a peritonitis infection.

His mother, Amy Beck, was convicted of exposing the three-month-old to mephedrone, known as M-CAT, and MDMA, commonly called ecstasy, at his home in Sandhaven and was jailed for seven years.

Beck, of Fraserburgh, was also convicted of being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug mephedrone over a period of almost three years and further charges of exposing children to drugs.

Her earlier trial at the High Court in Aberdeen heard that her former home was “polluted” by drugs.

Lawyers acting for her raised an appeal challenging the length of the prison sentence imposed on her, and the term was substituted to four years.

Jurors heard evidence that mephedrone might have compromised the baby’s ability to deal with all the implications of contracting peritonitis.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has now lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death.

The inquiry will explore the circumstances of the death and the adequacy of the care provided to Beck and Olly-James by NHS Grampian and the Aberdeenshire social work department.

Andy Shanks of COPFS, Scotland’s death investigation authority, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Olly-James Sievwright occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such a discretionary fatal accident inquiry should be held.

“The lodging of the first notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the sheriff.

“Olly-James’s family will continue to be kept informed of significant developments as court proceedings progress.”

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame.

The purpose of an FAI includes determining the cause of death, the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and establishing what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.

A preliminary hearing will take place on March 5 at Peterhead Sheriff Court.

NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Council have been approached for comment.