A young woman who died ten years after suffering severe brain damage in a fire at her home was unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled. Catriona Braithwaite suffered severe brain injuries during the blaze that was started by her father Philip Braithwaite in an attempt to kill himself and his family.
Philip, 49, died at the scene and younger daughter Jessica, aged seven, sadly died in hospital the following day. Catriona was just nine at the time and although she was rescued, she suffered brain injuries through lack of oxygen, leaving her needing specialist carers.
In August 2021, Catriona, 20, who also had cerebral palsy, was taken to James Cook University Hospital suffering from pneumonia and sadly passed away on September 1, 2021, Teesside Live reports.
Investigations following the blaze in May 2011 revealed that Philip, who was suffering from mental health issues, had disconnected the property's smoke alarms and brought a petrol can into the house. He started the fire in the children's downstairs playroom of the family home in Redcar while the youngsters were upstairs in bed.
The inquest held into Catriona's death on June 28 heard that Philip Braithwaite had become depressed and had tried to take his own life on two previous occasions. However, he was not considered a risk to anyone else.
Coroner Claire Bailey said: "It seems he intended to kill himself and his family by setting fire to the family home. Notes left by Philip Braithwaite said he intended to kill himself and his family."
A statement read out in court by Catriona's mother, Christine - who was downstairs at the time of the fire and managed to escape through the thick, black smoke - said her daughter suffered severe brain damage and was left unable to move around or communicate much and was prone to chest infections.
She said: "The fire robbed Catriona of the life she could have had and ultimately led to her death."
The court heard Catriona, who lived at Mossdale Grove, Guisborough, initially started to respond to treatment in hospital, but then her condition rapidly deteriorated and a decision was made to initiate end of life care and she died a few days later.
Ms Bailey said the medical evidence showed that Catriona's cerebral palsy and the brain injury she received in the fire both contributed to her death. She said police had informed her that had Mr Braithwaite survived he would be facing prosecution and potentially a murder charge.
The coroner said: "I am satisfied that Catriona was killed unlawfully."
In July 2012 an inquest into the earlier deaths concluded that Philip had killed himself and Jessica had been unlawfully killed. At the time it was stated that until August 2010 Philip was a good husband and a wonderful father who adored his children. He became convinced of serious money problems, although his wife said finances were manageable.
After becoming ill, Philip, who ran his own health and safety consultancy firm Cotswold Safety Ltd, was treated by mental health teams and at one point spent a six-week spell at the Roseberry Park unit in Middlesbrough.
On the night of the fire Mrs Braithwaite, who was watching television in a downstairs living room, became aware of the fire at about 11.30pm.
She told the inquest into her husband and Jessica's deaths: "As I walked out I was greeted by what I can only describe as an inferno. There was a wall of fire that appeared to reach the top of the door which completely filled the doorway with thick, acrid, black smoke gushing out of the room which was choking me.
"I was hysterical, I shouted out ‘what the hell have you done?’ I couldn’t understand how a fire could have got so big and intense so quickly. I ran towards the stairs and tried to go upstairs but was immediately choking on the smoke and couldn’t go up."
She then grabbed her mobile, rang 999 and ran into the street. Neighbours frantically tried to help but couldn’t get past the flames. Pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper told the hearing both dad and daughter died as a result of smoke inhalation.
A serious case review was carried out following the tragedy to look into potential failings and whether local authorities and professionals could have done more to protect the two girls from harm.
However Redcar and Cleveland Council was accused of a 'cover up' by then Redcar MP Ian Swales it refused to publish the report in 2014.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
- ‘Bottle attack’ caught on camera as yobs throw punches and kicks in middle of Glasgow street
- Scots woman ran over and killed boyfriend with car after furious row over money
- Scots Mercedes drink-driver snared after car computer reported crash to cops
