THE DEATH of a 21-year-old female was discussed at the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Coroners’ Court on Thursday (Feb 4), giving the conclusion that she had taken her own life.
Holly Elizabeth Greenway of Pencnwc Cwmfelin Boeth, Whitland, passed away on April 23, 2015.
Carmarthenshire Coroners’ Officer, Malcom Thompson told the court: “Holly attended Ysgol Dyffryn Taf School where she was bullied. This caused her extreme embarrassment, and she left school having taken no exams.
“When she left she had a boyfriend in Haverfordwest, who she moved in with. However, the relationship was abusive and she was controlling, and she experimented with cannabis, and spent time moving back and forth from Pembrokeshire to Carmarthenshire.
“She moved in with her sister in 2013 and it became apparent that she was paranoid and had mental health issues, and was sectioned at Bryngofal. She was convinced she was being frequently raped by a man, and could see and smell things that wouldn’t be there.”
Mr Thompson described Holly’s behaviour as volatile, and explained that she was released from Bryngofal with anti psychoticmedication, however did not take it.
He explained that on April 23 at 1.30pm, her mother Elizabeth had gone to see a friend. Holly was left at home with her step-dad, who has mobility problems, and at 4.30pm her mother returned home.
Holly had remained upstairs for the majority of time, but had gone out. Her step-dad assumed she had gone for a walk, which she often used to do. However, when her step-dad went to the barn to feed the dog, he found Holly suspended by her neck.
Holly’s mother, Elizabeth Greenway, told the court: “I text Holly’s social worker to say how worried I was about her that day. I went out to get her some sanitary items, brought them back for her, and then went to see a friend.”
She explained how Holly’s care worker, Claire Young, had said she didn’t feel that Holly should have been released, from Bryngofal.
It was thought that Holly was suffering from psychosis, however Mrs Greenway felt that was an ‘umbrella term’.
She said: “We had spoken to Claire about Holly possibly having schizophrenia. Why didn’t she get an MRI scan or get a diagnosis? Her social worker had told me that Holly would not be released after her assessment. Then, there would be a slow return to home, with a one day trial a week.
“Two days later, she returned home. All I had was a phone call to say she was on the way.”
The court heard how Holly had been scratching at her arms and face whilst in care, and was finding it hard to cope after being ‘kicked out’ of Bryngofal just before Christmas in 2014. Holly was unhappy with her medication, as they made her eat uncontrollably, making her put on weight quickly.
Therefore, Mrs Greenway’s issue lies with the Hywel Dda University Health Board, especially due to the ambulance taken an hour to get to her when she was found in the barn.
She said: “I tried to resuscitate her. I put Dave on the phone and we kept getting cut off because of the poor signal, but they had all of our information.”
David Earl Taff, Holly’s stepdad, had his statement read out to the court: “I’d been at home all day with Holly. She was ranting and raving, and always says she’s been raped by an invisible person.
“She’s really good when she’s on her medication, but when she’s off it, she’s bad.”
The court heard how Holly had said she wanted to die, however this was not something new for Holly to say. Mr Taff had seen Holly ‘muttering something under her breath’, before leaving to go for, what Mr Taff believed, was a walk.
The post mortem conducted by Dr Petia Nadeva, concluded that Holly had died as a result of asphyxiation from hanging. A small trace of alcohol was found in her blood, which could have been produced by her body after she had died.
Also in Holly’s blood was 31mg of THC per milliliter, and 75mg of THC per milliliter, which is consistent with the use of cannabis. Therefore Holly could have been experience one, or more of the effects of the drug.
Mrs Griffiths of the Hywel Dda University Health Board, said that since Holly’s death, communication between services and community mental health services have become more robust, after the health board ‘pulled together a detailed action plan’ to ensure this didn’t happen again.
Mrs Greenway told the court that the plan should have been in place anyway.
Coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, Mark Layton said that it is clear that Holly had a long standing mental health issue, and gave the conclusion that Holly killed herself. Mr Layton offered his condolences to the family.
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