Tragic Fire Deaths in Huddersfield Prompt Coroner's Warning Over Missed Safeguarding Opportunities
A coroner has concluded there were "missed opportunities" in the days leading up to a devastating house fire in Huddersfield where a mother took her own life and unlawfully killed her eight-year-old daughter. The inquest into the deaths of Danielle Parkinson and her daughter Iliza heard harrowing evidence about systemic failures in mental health support and child safeguarding procedures.
Haunting Final Video and Fatal Blaze
Danielle Parkinson, 32, recorded a 19-minute video and uploaded it to YouTube before starting the fatal fire at her Huddersfield home in July 2024. The blaze claimed the life of her daughter Iliza, who died in hospital following the incident. A second child managed to survive the fire, escaping the tragedy that unfolded in the Yorkshire town.
Assistant Coroner Caroline Chandler, presiding over the two-day inquest at Bradford Coroners' Court, delivered her conclusions after hearing extensive evidence about the circumstances surrounding the deaths. She determined that Danielle had taken her own life while unlawfully killing her young daughter, highlighting significant concerns about the care provided in the days preceding the tragedy.
Mental Health History and Missed Interventions
The court heard that Danielle had a longstanding history of mental health problems, with suicidal thoughts dating back to when she was just 13 years old. Days before the fire, she had attended Huddersfield Royal Infirmary's A&E department expressing suicidal feelings and was subsequently placed under the care of mental health services.
However, the inquest revealed crucial gaps in the safeguarding process:
- At no point were the views or concerns of Danielle's children formally recorded
- Safeguarding personnel were not involved in her care assessment
- The mental health trust failed to capture the "voices" of the children during treatment planning
Psychiatric practitioner Farah Farooq, who visited Danielle at home on July 29 - the final time she saw her alive - told the court that Danielle had appeared "bright" during their meeting and had discussed plans to find new employment. Remarkably, Danielle had even spoken about taking her children to see a Shakespeare play that summer, presenting what seemed like positive future intentions.
Protective Factors and Tragic Outcome
Miss Farooq revealed that Danielle had previously described her children as "protective factors" that prevented her from acting on suicidal thoughts. When questioned about whether she believed Danielle might harm her children, Miss Farooq stated she had observed the children as being "well loved" and considered Danielle to be a "kind and caring mum who worried about them."
"I had no concerns about her care of the children," she testified during the emotional proceedings.
Just two days before the fatal fire, Danielle had been discharged from the Kirklees Intensive Home Based Service mental health team. Earlier that month, she had been in respite care which involved a short break from her children as she struggled to cope, but discharged herself saying she missed them.
Family Tributes and Systemic Changes
Iliza's father, Gary, paid moving tribute to his daughter in a statement read to the court, describing how she "always had a smile on her face" and enjoyed school, playing with friends and spending time with her siblings. The family's statement following the inquest conveyed their profound grief, noting the "devastating and life-changing impact" of Iliza's loss.
The mental health trust has commissioned a report into Danielle's care which confirmed that the views of her children were not properly captured during her treatment. The court was informed that the trust is now working to implement service improvements in light of the case, with results to be reported back to the coroner at a later date.
Final Message and Ongoing Impact
Danielle's heartbreaking final YouTube message, played during the inquest, revealed her struggles with bipolar disorder and depression. In the video, she described herself as a "broken lost soul" and told friends and family: "I'm sorry." She spoke of suffering "more and more and more" each day and feeling she had no alternative but to end her life.
The tragedy has highlighted critical issues in mental health provision and child safeguarding protocols, with the coroner's identification of missed opportunities serving as a stark warning to healthcare providers about the importance of comprehensive family assessments when parents present with severe mental health difficulties.
