Family of girl found hanged urges others to share ‘taboo’ thoughts

Daisy Holmes was found hanged at a hostel in west Hull last November.

An inquest heard that the former Newland School for Girls pupil, who had dreamed of being an Army medic, was upset as her boyfriend had been seeing another girl.

On the night of her death she commented on social networking site Facebook “that she wouldn’t be bothering him any more”.

She also told staff at the Kingston Project, where she was staying after difficulties with her adoptive parents, that she was using their phone for the last time.

Daisy, who grew up in Barnsley, had suffered abuse as a child and was adopted aged 10, by the couple from Hull.

She had problems with her birth parents and was disappointed when her application to join the Army was turned down.

Five days before her death she told a mental health worker Michael Falk she had suicidal thoughts and had self-harmed “rather than cry”, but Mr Falk told the inquest there was “no indication she would take her own life”.

Her adoptive mother Ann Marie Holmes said in a statement Daisy had been a “victim since birth, who had a challenging relationship with her boyfriend, tensions with us, difficulties relating to professionals and disappointment over her career plans”.

Ms Holmes aims to raise £1,000 running the 62 miles from London to Brighton in May for the charity Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide. She said: “I’d like to think Daisy would be proud. Our feeling is that if we can just educate people to have these conversations – it is a taboo subject.”

Her partner Carol added: “It is getting children to talk about it to each other and teachers, to any adult, to get it out in the open.”

Of Daisy, they said: “She was renowned for her sense of humour and ability to make people smile. We are proud that Daisy touched the lives of so many people she came into contact with.”

The inquest has been adjourned until today.

Papyrus’s helpline is on 0800 068 41 41, text 07786 209697 or e-mail [email protected] for confidential support.