The daddy of schoolgirl Molly Russell has questioned how his 14-year-old daughter knew “the best way to get into this state” earlier than her loss of life.
Ian Russell was taken by his witness assertion within the inquest at North London Coroner’s Courtroom on Wednesday, wherein he stated he had believed Molly’s change in behaviour was right down to “regular teenage temper swings”.
Molly, 14, from Harrow, north-west London, is understood to have seen materials linked to anxiousness, melancholy, self-harm and suicide on social media earlier than ending her life, prompting her household to marketing campaign for higher web security.
Giving proof to coroner Andrew Walker, Mr Russell confirmed his assertion was appropriate. It learn: “All of the instant household observed a change in Molly’s behaviour in across the final 12 months of her life.
With the advantage of hindsight, I'm able to recall some cases which didn't appear as regarding on the time however tackle extra significance nowIan Russell
“Molly grew to become extra withdrawn and spent an elevated period of time alone in her room, however she nonetheless fortunately contributed to household life. Molly additionally discovered it laborious to get to sleep and it appeared she was usually the final of us awake.
“Like most of us, Molly usually had her telephone together with her though we had a strict rule at dwelling of no telephones on the eating desk. She used that and her iPod Contact for an entire vary of issues.
“I knew Molly had an Instagram account and a Twitter account as I additionally had accounts on these platforms and we ‘adopted’ one another, as did different family members.
“Molly closed the Twitter account of hers that we had been all following and it was solely after her loss of life that I came upon she had opened one other account on Twitter.
“We talked about dangers from strangers on-line, not giving out private particulars, solely sharing pictures with mates, on-line bullying – that kind of factor.
“We thought Molly’s modified behaviour in 2017 was only a reflection of regular teenage temper swings, coinciding with puberty, and though we had been involved we weren't overly involved.
“With the advantage of hindsight, I'm able to recall some cases which didn't appear as regarding on the time however tackle extra significance now.”
The coroner requested him a few dialog the pair had within the months forward of her loss of life.
The inquest heard that Mr Russell spoke to Molly about how she was feeling whereas the pair had been driving collectively in September 2017, however she “brushed it off”.
Giving proof, he stated: “I keep in mind speaking to Molly and questioning her concerning the considerations we had as dad and mom.
“They had been the kind of issues we might have had together with her sisters or different dad and mom would have had with their youngsters around the globe.
“I questioned her… to see if she would confide in something that could be troubling her.
“She brushed it off and gave the impression to be unflustered by the query.”
After telling the courtroom what he had seen when he discovered his daughter after her loss of life, Mr Russell stated: “I assumed to myself, how does anybody who's 14 know the best way to get into this state and the way does somebody who's 14 know the best way to finish her life so successfully?”