Deaths of loved ones must be investigated

A furious mother has called on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to apologise to grieving families, following a damning report.

Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Sir Richard Ottaway, said he was “concerned” about the number of complaints received from people who have suffered a loss abroad and stated they “cannot be dismissed and must be investigated by the FCO”.

The report echoes many of the failings The Sunday Post has consistently highlighted about the FCO when dealing with families who have lost a loved one overseas, such as Evelyn Clarke, who mysteriously died in Dubai, mother-of-three Jean Hanlon, who was pulled from the harbour of a Greek island, and Colin Love.

Colin’s mum Julie contributed to the report, which described the Foreign Office’s handling of overseas bereavements as “inconsistent” and “with repeated failures of communication and compassion”.

The Glasgow woman set up charity DAYNA (Death Abroad You’re Not Alone) to help families who have lost a loved one overseas, following her own experiences with the FCO after Colin died in a swimming accident in Venezuela.

Julie said: “I would like to hope an apology from the Foreign Secretary or FCO is forthcoming, but I’m not going to hold my breath. The report highlights many major issues that must be addressed.

“A lot of the issues have been dealt with sensitively and with empathy by the committee, a quality lacking for many families over the years when in contact with the Foreign Office.”

The report by the 12-person committee found many failings in how the FCO handled suspicious or accidental deaths abroad and called for a specialised unit to provide expert assistance.

The report stated: “Many of the complaints we received were not focused on extra funding but rather on things the FCO could and should do better.

“The vast majority of complaints about FCO services submitted to our inquiry have come from family members of victims of accidental or violent deaths abroad.

“Many of the comments suggest the poor service from the FCO actually added to their trauma and distress.

“Common themes emerge, including a lack of compassion from staff, failure to communicate reliably and effectively and to provide clear advice on how to handle the foreign state’s bureaucracy and a reluctance to challenge the authorities of another state.”

An FCO spokesperson said: “The FAC’s report rightly recognises the high level of service consular staff provide and the improvements we have already made. We are always looking to improve our services, and we’ve freed up staff on the ground.”

Julie continues to raise money to assist grieving families through DAYNA and is hosting a fundraising night at the Glencairn Venue in Rutherglen on Friday evening.