5th June 2014

At Croydon Coroner’s Court, The Magistrates Court, Barclay Rd, Croydon CR9 3NG before Selena Lynch, Senior Coroner for South London
From Monday 9 June 2014 at 10am until Friday 13 June 2014

Liam Hardy was 14 years old when he died on 27 November 2012. He had been found hanging at home on 19 November and died in hospital eight days later. Liam had a history of self-harming behaviour and he had been taken to St Helier hospital four days previously, on 15 November, after his mother found him choking himself at home and was concerned for his welfare. However, Liam was not admitted to hospital and was discharged home after being seen by a psychiatric nurse.

Liam was known to a number of agencies because of concerns about his health and well-being, including mental health services and children’s services.

Following Liam’s death, a Serious Case Review was commissioned by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board which made a number of criticisms regarding the care that Liam received from different agencies and set out a series of recommendations directed at a number of different organisations.

Liam’s family hope that the inquest will address the following issues:

1. The care that Liam received from mental health services;
   2. Whether appropriate action was taken by the local authority in response to concerns raised regarding Liam’s well-being;
   3. Whether the assessments that were carried out in respect of Liam’s risk of self-harm and suicide were adequate;
   4. Whether sufficient information was passed between different agencies regarding Liam’s vulnerability, including the risk of self-harm and suicide;
   5. Whether each agency complied with relevant policies in respect of Liam’s care;
   6. The decision to discharge Liam following the self-harming incident on 15 November 2012;
   7. Whether appropriate action was taken by each relevant agency following the incident on 15 November 2012

Liam’s mother, Janine Hardy, who will be giving evidence on the first day, said:

“Liam was a lovely son and we miss him terribly. I hope that the inquest will finally allow us to hear the truth about what happened to Liam and ensure that no other family has to go through what we have been through.”

Charlotte Haworth Hird of Bindmans LLP is the solicitor acting for Liam’s family. The family will be represented at the inquest hearing by Caoilfhionn Gallagher of Doughty Street Chambers. The charity INQUEST has been supporting Liam’s family and both lawyers are members of the INQUEST Lawyers Group. The family asks that all press enquiries be directed to Bindmans LLP in the first instance.