The family of the late Scotland international Siobhan Cattigan have today insisted that people within Scottish Rugby still have questions to answer about the events surrounding the death of their daughter, despite an apology made on behalf of the governing body at the weekend.
Neil and Morven Cattigan thanked John McGuigan, who has only been chairman of Scottish Rugby Limited since May, for making that apology at the organisation’s annual general meeting on Saturday. However, they still believe that inadequate treatment for brain injuries that Siobhan received in matches and/or at training contributed to her death in tragic circumstances in late 2021. And, referring to a pending meeting with the Crown Office, they appeared to confirm that there is still the possibility of their taking civil action.
“We acknowledge the apology announced on Saturday by SRL Chairman John McGuigan,” the Cattigans said in the statement, posted on social media. “Mr McGuigan contacted us some months ago to say he wished, as far as his capabilities would permit, to 'right the wrongs’.
"We are extremely grateful that he has acted with integrity, humanity and decency, reaching out to us from an organisation that had previously treated our family and, more importantly, Siobhan's memory shamefully with unkind comments and disrespectful actions being made by senior executives.
“There are those within Scottish Rugby who have questions to answer regarding their treatment, or lack thereof, towards Siobhan and we cannot begin to grieve until they are answered. We . . . will work alongside Mr McGuigan in identifying appropriate actions honouring Siobhan.
“We have accepted the Scottish Government’s invitation to meet; discuss their acknowledgement that injury risk, prevention and treatment differs between males and females and work together towards adequately protecting future generations of players in Siobhan’s memory. Similarly, we anticipate our upcoming meeting with the Crown Office will be productive.
“Thank you to every single person who has supported our broken hearts and kept our beautiful wee girl’s memory alive. We have a long road ahead.”
McGuigan’s apology did not amount to an admission of liability by Scottish Rugby, but it was a marked change of approach from the attitude previously taken by SRU chief executive Mark Dodson. “As the new Chair of SRL I wish to apologise wholeheartedly for any anguish we caused Siobhan during her time with Scottish Rugby and to her family and loved ones following her passing,” McGuigan said.
“Albeit Scottish Rugby did not intend to cause distress to the family through our actions, it’s clear we should have managed this tragic situation better.”
