Mary Stroman death: Haringey Council admits 'serious failings' in lead-up to teenager's death

Inquest: Mary Stroman died in similar horrific circumstances to her school friend
Ramzy Alwakeel19 October 2015

The teenage daughter of a north London jazz star killed herself following “serious failings” by the local council, a report has found.

Sixteen-year-old Mary Stroman died under a train in Wiltshire in January 2014, having suffered “four years of mental anguish, self-harm and illness”.

The report, by Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board, found “substantial evidence that the local authority’s professional input was of a poor standard”.

Mary’s death could not have been foreseen, the paper says, but the council failed to carry out a formal child protection investigation, made bad management decisions, and took too long to arrange care for her.

The teenager’s parents Scott and Sue Stroman said they welcomed the “direct” and “honest” report.

Mr Stroman is a renowned conductor, performer and teacher who lectures at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

“As the review notes, on many occasions Mary said she had been sexually abused, but police failed to respond adequately or investigate the matter,” they said in a statement.

“Mary suffered more than four years of mental anguish, self-harm and illness, culminating in her tragic death.

“The review identifies ‘serious failings’ in services that should have helped Mary. Similar to the long delay in preparing today’s review, Haringey took far too long to arrange care for our daughter.

Tribute: Mary Stroman's family said she was 'gentle and kind' and loved animals

“That, the review believes, is the greatest cause of concern.”

Sir Paul Ennals, independent chairman of the Haringey Safeguarding Children Board, said the review had identified episodes where agencies could have responded differently.

“It does not identify a causal link between these episodes and her death in January 2014, which it concludes could not have been anticipated,” he said.

“But some significant issues have been raised for the agencies who had sought to help her.”

Sir Paul said Haringey, along with and the other councils and NHS trusts criticised in the paper, “sincerely regret that there were a number of areas where we should have done better”.

Haringey’s child protection services were heavily criticised in the wake of the 2007 death of toddler Peter “Baby P” Connelly scandal, and the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbié seven years earlier.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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