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Not only a crime but a tragedy [...] exploring the murder of adults with disabilities by their parents
- Author:
- BROWN Hilary
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 14(1), 2012, pp.6-21.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The author considers what can be learned from the occasional cases in which the parents of disabled adults kill their sons and daughters. She seeks to reconcile society's need to apply strong sanctions to the parents while also recognising the stresses in their lives. Six cases are reviewed in detail. These involved seven disabled adults killed by a parent in the UK between 1999 and 2009. Every case involved the mother. Their actions did not appear to be motivated by malice, but occurred against a backdrop of significant mental illness and distress. Two of the parents killed themselves as well as their adult child and another attempted suicide. The explanations offered in court included a combination of caregiver stress and mercy killing. The author suggests that the judicial system is struggling to find a consistent approach. Study limitations are noted. Only high profile cases reported in the press are included, these represent a subset of all cases in the study period. Only information in the public domain is included; the portrayal of the issues in the media is integral to the study. The author concludes with recommendations as to how the backdrop of significant mental ill-health could be taken into account in the way families are offered support with a view to preventing further tragedies.