The family of a three-month-old baby who died after being blasted with a hairdryer by her mum have demanded an investigation into claims of social work failings.
Courtney Gartshore was jailed for six years on Friday for killing her tragic daughter Dahlia-Rose. Gartshore, 28, subjected the infant to “significant and sustained heat” on the head and body on September 30, 2023.
Emergency services were called to their home on King Street in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, but the tot had died. Gartshore, the sole parent listed on the baby’s birth certificate, was convicted of culpable homicide after a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen last month.
Pressure on Aberdeenshire Council
The Sunday Mail has learned Aberdeenshire Council is now under pressure to investigate alleged missed opportunities to investigate concerns raised in the care of Dahlia-Rose.
A source close to the case told the Sunday Mail: “Dahlia-Rose’s family are beyond devastated and want answers. There have been meetings requested with social work at the council, demanding to know why concerning incidents were ignored more than once. The family has also said they have requested an investigation to be carried out by the council into failings in the care of Dahlia-Rose that were previously highlighted.”
Details of the tragic death
Dahlia-Rose is believed to have died of hyperthermia - a dangerous increase of normal body temperature - and heatstroke. She suffered extensive burns to the right side of her body, including her arm, chest, armpit, shoulder, face, scalp and brain.
Before her daughter’s death Gartshore had been drinking and arrived home at around 4am. She made a 999 call claiming she had woken up that morning to find her daughter dead in their home. The court heard Gartshore told the operator: “I just woke up and her head is all purple.” The operator asked if Dahila-Rose was “beyond help”, to which Gartshore replied: “Yeah.” She claimed the baby had been “perfectly fine” the day before but her skin was now “peeling off”.
Paramedic Shona Helm described finding the baby as “distressing”. Material containing Dahlia-Rose’s DNA was found on the nozzle of a hairdryer.
Court proceedings and reactions
Gartshore’s defence lawyer Murray Macara called it a “truly tragic and distressing case”. He said his client has a history of childhood trauma, mental health problems, overdoses and self-harm, but argued that she had provided appropriate care to her baby up until the night of her death. Appearing on a video link from prison to give evidence Gartshore said she had no recollection of using the hairdryer on her baby.
Judge Simon Collins KC called it a “uniquely disturbing” case. He said: “It is tragic as well as terrible. You will have to live the rest of your life with the knowledge that you were responsible for her death. This was a gross breach of the most basic duty as a parent.” Although the judge acknowledged she had not intended to harm or kill her baby, he said she was culpable in the “highest degree” of carelessness.
Laurence Findlay, Director of Education and Children’s Services at Aberdeenshire Council, said: “The death of Dahlia-Rose is a tragedy, and my thoughts remain with all those affected. All concerns relating to the welfare and safety of children are taken very seriously and our teams respond to them in line with our statutory duties and our own safeguarding procedures. Owing to our responsibilities around confidentiality, we are unable to comment on individual cases.”
