A teenager tragically passed away while watching the TV show “Tipping Point,” with a sheriff determining that the teen might have survived if her mother had allowed her to receive medical care. Robyn Goldie, 13, suffered from severe pain due to a perforated stomach ulcer and ultimately died in her home in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, while her mother, Sharon Goldie, was out at a pub in July 2018.
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 later succumbed to her condition alone. Prior to her death, Robyn had been unwell, appearing pale and shivering, with her mother subjecting her to unsanitary living conditions that included cat urine and feces, leading to a flea infestation.
A fatal accident inquiry into Robyn’s death revealed that her mother had ignored obvious signs of illness, resulting in her prosecution and conviction for ill-treatment and neglect of her daughter. The inquiry also highlighted failures in North Lanarkshire Council’s social work department, emphasizing the need for child protection measures and earlier intervention by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.
The inquiry, conducted by Sheriff Linda Nicolson at Hamilton Sheriff Court, concluded that Robyn’s mother should have sought medical attention for her daughter or allowed her to receive medical care, potentially preventing her death. While no system failures contributing to the death were identified, the inquiry revealed shortcomings in the council’s social work policies and procedures.
The council has since implemented changes to address the identified issues, aiming to enhance information sharing and decision-making processes. Robyn’s mother admitted to neglecting her daughter’s basic needs and permitting harmful behaviors, leading to her conviction and a prison sentence. Prosecutors did not pursue a charge of culpable homicide against her.
The determination of the inquiry emphasized the importance of learning from Robyn’s tragic death to prevent similar incidents in the future. The family has been provided with a copy of the sheriff’s findings, and the authorities expressed condolences to them. Sharon Goldie was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for her actions between July 2017 and July 2018.