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Mother's anger at 'lack of action' before son's death

16:15, 23 September 2009

updated: 16:16, 23 September 2009

Cagney O'Brien
Cagney O'Brien

The mother of a teenage boy who died when he fell from an improvised rope swing says she is angry that nothing was done to prevent his death.

Cagney O’Brien, 13, of The Linces, Buckland Estate in Dover fell 20 feet onto concrete from the home-made rope swing attached to a tree in Monks Way in September last year.

An accidental death verdict was recorded at the inquest at Dover today, with the Coroner, Rachel Redman, describing Cagney’s death as “a tragic accident”.

The inquest heard that a PCSO and district council officials had been told by residents that they were concerned that the rope swing was dangerous, although the council's community safety officer, Christopher Allen, told the Coroner there was no record of any calls.

After the hearing, Cagney’s mother, Danielle O’Brien said she was angry that no action had been taken to remove the rope swing after the calls.

"If he (the PCSO) had done his job that rope swing wouldn't have been there and it wouldn't have happened," she said. "I am totally devastated."

Kent Police said an investigation had taken place and the matter had been resolved.

The Kent Police Professional Standards body, which carried out the investigation, said in a letter to Cagney’s family that the PCSO had a duty to inform the local authority of the resident's complaint, but he did not recognise his duty.

The letter says: "The 'failure' to seek to have the rope swing removed can not be attributed as a factor in the death because of the five-day gap between the complaint and Cagney's fall."

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