Chaplains spoke to mother before death fall

Catherine Madden, 40, known as Cathy, was talked to by the counsellors before falling from Seven Sisters Cliff, Birling Gap, East Sussex, on Saturday afternoon.

At the same time as her death, police traced Mrs Madden's car, abandoned at Birling Gap, to her home in Roundle Avenue, Felpham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, where they found her daughter's body.

Keira Madden was found in a bedroom of the detached house in a quiet, leafy street in the Roundle area of the seaside resort.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "It was almost simultaneous that they were entering the property as she fell off the cliff."

She added that only the mother and the daughter lived at the Felpham address and no-one else was being sought in connection with the deaths.

The spokeswoman said that a post-mortem examination of Keira's body had been inconclusive and police were awaiting the results of toxicology tests to establish a cause of death.

Det Chief Insp Nick Sloan, of Sussex Police, said that Mrs Madden had been going through a divorce from husband Steven, a self-employed computer expert who lives and works in Germany.

Mr Madden would come back to the UK every three weeks for his access visits to Keira.

Mr Sloan said: "The father is devastated by what has happened.

"This appears to be a tragic series of events.

"Our thoughts are with the family members at this very difficult time who are being supported by police family liaison officers.

"House-to-house inquiries are being conducted to establish the circumstances leading up to the child's death.

"We are still investigating the circumstances that led up to the death of Keira Madden and her mother, Cathy Madden.

"The post-mortem results for Keira have been inconclusive and we now have to wait for the results of toxicology tests.

"We are not looking for anyone else at this stage in relation to the death of Keira.

"This is a very difficult time for family members."

Keira's godparents, Sarah and Ewan, who were too upset to speak, left a sunflower toy outside the house yesterday with a note speaking of their loss.

The note says: "A little sweetie who will always be remembered.

"Keira you will truly be missed. Love Sarah, Ewan and Ben."

A message on a bouquet of flowers left by a man pushing a pram, who did not want to talk, says: "Dear Keira, We are all going to miss you so much. Lots of love from Frances, Steve, Rosie, Annie and Charlie."

A note in children's handwriting left with a photo says: "Dear Keira, We are going to miss playing with you. Lots of love from your mates, Rosie and Annie."

Another note attached to a bunch of flowers says: "Keira, Gone too soon. Rest in peace little angel."

Neighbour Steve Hill said that he had seen the mother and daughter just days before they died.

He said: "I only knew them to say 'hello' to in passing.They just seemed like a normal family.

"It's terrible for this to happen to a child."

Mr Hill said that Mrs Madden had been involved in a domestic bust-up with husband Steven at the house about two months ago.

He said: "There were clothes and things thrown out on to the pavement.

"It was a big domestic argument but you just thought it could happen to anyone and you just get on with things."

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "The house was always a bit quiet. What is modern society coming to that things like this happen?"