A GRIEVING mother has posted a heartbreaking birthday message to her daughter – 10 months after she killed herself in prison.
Linda Allan posted a picture of Katie on what would have been her 22nd birthday saying: “We love and miss you every second of every day.”
Linda, from Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, added that her birthday “gift” was a promise to change the way young people are treated in prison.
Katie, a geography student at Glasgow University, took her own life in Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution last June while serving 16 months for a hit and run committed while she was drink-driving.
Her mother also shared an email from her daughter, written two months before she died, in which Katie wrote about missing the simple things in life and told Linda: “I love you with all my heart mum.”
Linda and her family are campaigning for radical reform of the way the courts and prisons deal with mental health since their daughter’s death last year, which they blame on bullying.
She posted today: “Happy 22nd birthday Katie.
“Our gift to you is our promise – to try and change the way so many young people are treated in prison.
“We love you and miss you every second of every day.”
She shared a handwritten letter from Katie in which she said: “I can’t wait to get home Mum – really missing the simple things like a cuppa out a mug that ain’t plastic and the freedom to talk to you openly without being watched.
“I love you with all my heart Mum. You’re quite literally the best Mum in the world. I love you, Katie.”
Recalling the last birthday they had with Katie, her 21st when she was detained in Polmont, Linda wrote: “We were not allowed to give you watercolour paints for your birthday. It was against the rules.
“We saw you for 45 minutes and bought you crisps and a drink. It was the last birthday we would have with you.”
Since being posted to social media this morning, Linda’s post has received multiple messages of support.
Lynn Burns said: “Happy heavenly birthday beautiful Katie. Holding you, your family and friends in my thoughts and prayers especially today.”
Tracy Kirk said: “Thinking of you even more today, Linda.”
Joan McFadden commented: “My heart goes out to you all.”
Twitter user @RinaComments said: “Happy Birthday dearest Katie. I’m sure God has a very special place in heaven, where you can look down and see how much good your Mum and Dad are trying to do for other young people like yourself.”
Katie took her own in June last year with parents Linda and Stuart claiming prison staff failed to accept warnings their daughter was vulnerable.
The Allans recently used a press conference to outline figures which revealed 40% of all prison deaths in the last decade were suicides.
Katie’s parents want greater mental health support for younger inmates.
Speaking at the press conference, Linda also wanted to outline how this is becoming a huge issue in Scottish prisons.
She said: “Our campaign attempts to present to government ministers, academics and society the stark reality of what is going on in the halls of our prisons – no gloss over, no excuses, no spin, no soundbites.”
The Scottish Government are expected to release a report reviewing mental health services available to young Scottish prisoners later this year
