A mother killed her eight-year-old daughter
A mother killed her eight-year-old daughter before taking her own life in a house fire Chris Karidis/Unsplash

A mother who had been discharged from mental health services just days earlier unlawfully killed her eight-year-old daughter before taking her own life in a house fire, an inquest has heard.

The case has raised urgent questions about safeguarding and post-discharge support, with a coroner citing 'missed opportunities' in the days leading up to the tragedy.

The deaths occurred following a blaze at the family home on Leeds Road in Huddersfield during the early hours of 31 July 2024. Danielle Parkinson, 31, and her daughter Iliza were taken to hospital with critical injuries and later died. A second child was rescued from the property and survived.

Fatal Fire and Inquest Findings

The fire was deliberately started using an accelerant, the inquest was told. A post-mortem examination found that Iliza had sustained burns to around 90% of her body.

A pathologist also identified a number of defensive knife wounds, concluding that she had been assaulted prior to the fire.

Following a two-day hearing at Bradford Coroners' Court, Assistant Coroner Caroline Chandler ruled that Danielle Parkinson had taken her own life and had unlawfully killed her daughter.

Recent Mental Health Discharge

Evidence presented to the court showed that Danielle had a long history of mental health issues, including persistent suicidal thoughts dating back to her early teens.

Earlier in July, she attended A&E at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary after feeling suicidal and was placed under the care of mental health services.

According to the Daily Star, Danielle had the words 'lost soul' tattooed on her face the day before the tragedy. The outlet also reported that she shared a video in which she said: 'Every day I'm suffering more and more.'

Despite ongoing concerns, she was discharged from the Kirklees Intensive Home Based Service just two days before the fire.

At the time, she had reportedly described her children as 'protective factors' that stopped her from acting on suicidal thoughts.

'Missed Opportunities' and Safeguarding Concerns

In her findings, the coroner said there had been 'missed opportunities' in the days leading up to the incident.

The inquest heard that while Danielle was under the care of mental health services, her children's views were not recorded and no safeguarding referral was made.

An internal review commissioned by the mental health trust later found that the 'voices' of the children had not been 'captured' during assessments.

The trust has since begun implementing changes to its procedures, with the results of those improvements to be shared with the coroner at a later date.

Final Contact With Mental Health Services

The court heard from Farah Farooq, a psychiatric practitioner who visited Danielle at home on 29 July, two days before the fire.

Miss Farooq said Danielle appeared 'bright' during the visit and spoke about plans to find work and take her children to see a Shakespeare production over the summer.

She reported that Danielle said her sleep and mood had improved and that she thanked the service for its support, telling Miss Farooq she had 'saved her life'. When asked if she had any concerns about the children's safety, Miss Farooq said they appeared well cared for by a 'kind and caring mum'.

Family Tribute and Ongoing Impact

Iliza's father, Gary, paid tribute to his daughter in a statement read to the court, describing her as a child who 'always had a smile on her face' and loved school and playing with her friends and siblings.

In a statement issued after the hearing, Iliza's family said her death had a 'devastating and life-changing impact', particularly on her father. They thanked the emergency services and those who had shown compassion and support, and asked for privacy as they continue to grieve.

The case has intensified scrutiny of mental health discharge decisions and safeguarding practices, particularly in the critical period immediately after patients leave crisis services, an issue now under further review by the trust involved.

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