Care bosses avoid blame after Alex, 13, is choked to death in unit

Apr 20 2008 By Norman Silvester

No Blame After Alex, 13, Chokes To Death

A CHILDREN'S home has been cleared of blame for the death of a 13-year-old boy who strangled himself.

A sheriff ruled staff could not have known Alex Kergan might kill himself - even though it was claimed he had already attempted suicide.

Now Alex's furious mum has demanded a new probe, accusing bosses of a cover-up.

The teen choked himself by tying cord to a door handle. He was found by staff at Kempsthorn Home, Pollok, Glasgow.

The fatal accident inquiry ruled neither staff nor Glasgow City Council were to blame.

Witnesses claimed Alex tried to kill himself six months before his death by swallowing 110 pills.

Alex was admitted to Kempsthorn in March 2006 due to truancy, petty crime, self-harming and substance abuse and died seven weeks later. The court heard he had been abused aged six.

Sheriff Sam Cathcart said: "There were no reasonable precautions whereby his death might have been avoided."

But Alex's mum Jackie, 41, of Royston, said: "My son was not the type to take his life. I'm determined to get the truth."