A teenager tragically passed away while watching the TV show “Tipping Point” as a sheriff’s investigation revealed that her life could have been saved if her mother had allowed her to receive medical care. Robyn Goldie, 13, suffered excruciating pain from a perforated stomach ulcer at her home in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, in July 2018, while her mother, Sharon Goldie, 49, was out at a pub.
Despite Robyn’s pleas for help, her mother refused to take her to the hospital and prevented a neighbor from intervening on July 25. Robyn, struggling to breathe, was forced back inside by her mother and tragically passed away alone after enduring silent suffering.
An inquiry into Robyn’s death revealed that her mother neglected her obvious signs of illness in the days leading up to her death. Additionally, it was discovered that Robyn lived in deplorable conditions, including exposure to cat urine and feces, leading to her contracting fleas.
The inquiry also uncovered failings in the social work department of North Lanarkshire Council, where child protection measures should have been implemented earlier. The Lord Advocate ordered the inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding Robyn’s death and to learn from the tragedy to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The sheriff’s determination, following the inquiry at Hamilton Sheriff Court, highlighted that seeking medical attention for Robyn or allowing her access to medical care could have potentially averted her death. While no system failures directly contributed to the tragedy, the council’s social work policies and procedures were found to be lacking in compliance.
Robyn’s mother was convicted of neglect and ill-treatment in 2020, with details emerging that she failed to provide basic necessities to her daughter and exposed her to harmful substances and activities. Despite her cognitive and physical limitations due to a childhood brain injury, Goldie’s actions were deemed severe enough to warrant a jail sentence.
The sheriff’s findings emphasized the need for improved systems within the council to prevent such cases of neglect and underscored the tragic consequences of the lack of timely intervention in Robyn’s case.