Families who lost loved ones in Thailand give evidence at the British House of Commons

On the 30.5.2018 the 1st Evidence Session of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Deaths Abroad and Consular Services took place at Britain’s House of Commons. Five families who had lost loved ones in Thailand gave evidence.

Group photo of the participants at yesterday’s APPG meeting. Back Row (standing) L-R: Samantha Whittle, Brenda White, Hannah Bardell MP (organiser), Julie Love MBE (representing DAYNA), Eve Henderson (representing Murdered Abroad); Front Row (seated) L-R: Sara Cotton, Martin Cotton, Pat Harrington (representing MAMA), Boyne Annesley Snr.

Hannah Bardell MP for Livingston on the 30^th of May said

‪Today was the beginning of a journey. A journey to improve support for families whose loved ones die abroad.
At the 1st evidence session of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on deaths abroad and consular services, 5 brave families gave evidence. #appgdeathsabroad

A huge thank you too each of the families who took part today, thanks also to the amazing ‪@juliemlove23 who set up http://www.daynacharity.com/index.html and Eve Henderson founder of ‪@MurderedAbroad. They’ve both lost loved ones and now support families in the same terrible situation.

Nothing could have prepared me for what I heard today. All the families in today’s session had lost someone in Thailand – we learned about systematic failures of the Thai authorities and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Families ignored, information mislaid, autopsy reports lost. Support and guidance left to small charities, individual supporters and the 3rd sector.

Families ignored, information mislaid, autopsy reports lost. Support and guidance left to small charities, individual supporters and the 3rd sector.

Above all harrowing tales of 5 families who lost loved ones in suspicious and often violent circumstances, abandoned and grieving with no answers nor hope of justice.

This is how the UK Gov & FCO treat our citizens and their loved ones in their darkest hour. It cannot be right.

Over the coming weeks and months we’ll be taking evidence from more families and people affected by deaths abroad, including families from my own constituency.

It was the tragic and untimely deaths of my constituents #JuliePearson & #KirstyMaxwell that led my team and I to this point.

Once we’ve collated the evidence we will use this to inform our work and influence the UK Gov and FCO to improve the support they offer to grieving families.

Families deserve more. I set up this APPG and Chair it because though we cannot promise change, we’re damn well going to try.

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