From The Liverpool Echo of 27 September 1986: "Overdose girl, 12, in last outburst. Schoolgirl Julie Shaw swallowed an overdose and then claimed as she lay dying that two fellow pupils had forced her to steal. But the girls later told police they had never threatened her, an inquest was told. And her headmaster said she used to make up stories and seek attention. Yesterday an open verdict was recorded on the tragic 12-year-old of Kingsway, Higher Ince, Wigan, who died after taking between 10 and 24 tablets prescribed for her asthma. Coroner David Blakey said the evidence did not disclose what her intentions were. He heard that Julie, a pupil at Rose Bridge High School, Wigan, had allegedly been involved in petty thefts. One time she admitted taking £40 from a money box at home. But her mother, J▮▮▮▮ Chrimes, told the Wigan hearing that everything was all right up to Valentine's Day this year. Then Julie complained of vomitting and stomach pains - and next day she confessed she had taken an overdose. An Ambulance was called but she died later that day in hospital. Mrs. Chrimes said: 'I was sat with Julie when she grabbed my arm and said how much she loved me and the family, but she hated two girls at school for making her steal and smoke. She said she was sorry for doing these things. Coroner's officer PC Joseph Day told the coroner that the two other girls, aged 14 and 13, had been interviewed at their homes but denied making threats or placing pressure on Julie to steal. Mr. Alan Roscoe, headmaster at Rose Bridge, confirmed that Julie had been absent from school for a few days before the fatal incident. In the past she had claimed that people were calling her names at school and that she had no friends. She had also caused several disturbances and arguments among friends, and fabricated stories. Mr. Roscoe also said that Julie would often seek attention and sympathy and sometimes told lies. She had never really been accepted in her form. He added: 'We were not aware of any pressure being brought upon her.'
Although Julie Elizabeth's birth was registered in the name SHAW, and she was named as Julie Shaw in the newspaper report, the death record is in the name CHRIMES, which is why Julie Elizabeth is included in this research. |
