'Melissa was not a statistic': Family seek answers over young mum's sudden death
Mother-of-two Melissa Core died in Brighton on January 8 this year. Originally from Finglas, she had been struggling with mental health and addiction issues in the last years of her life.
The vulnerable 34-year-old had been under the care of local adult safeguarding services, and disclosed mental health and domestic abuse concerns to outreach workers.
Her mother Barbara, along with her sister Emily Kearns, believe Melissa's death was the result of 'repeated and preventable failures' by agencies including health services, police, and safeguarding bodies.
'Melissa did not die suddenly, and she did not die without warning,' her sister Emily told
The Journal
.
'Her death was the final result of repeated and preventable failings. She reached out, she disclosed abuse, and she asked for help.
'But time and time again, she was dismissed, misjudged, and left to face danger on her own.'
Family feel Melissa was 'completely unsupported'
Her family described how Melissa moved to the English seaside town several years ago to pursue a relationship, which later broke down.
During this time, the young woman began struggling with alcohol and homelessness.
In the months prior to her death, she disclosed incidents of domestic abuse and suicidal thoughts, and was violently attacked in the street.
According to medical documents obtained by her family, and seen by
The Journal
, the young mum repeatedly told services that she felt unsafe.
Following a suicide attempt in September 2024, she was assessed as high risk by outreach workers. However, no safeguarding referral was made to the city's adult services.
By October, Melissa, who was in receipt of help from homeless charity Change Grow Live (CGL), was hospitalised after being violently attacked in the street.
According to medical documents, she suffered a significant head injury which led to hearing loss.
Yet, no coordinated care plan was put in place for the mother-of-two, and her case was never flagged with Brighton and Hove Council's Adult Safeguarding Board.
'She was known to services, documented as high risk, and completely unsupported,' Emily said.
She begged for help. She was ignored.
In the early hours of January 5, Melissa was found unconscious in the Rock Street area of the city.
She was rushed to hospital, but despite the efforts of doctors, she passed away on January 8.
Her family, who travelled from Dublin to be at her bedside, were left devastated and heartbroken.
Melissa Core, whose family has flagged serious concerns with West Sussex Coroner's Office over her death.
Emily Kearns
Emily Kearns
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Incorrect date of death recorded
They say the trauma of losing Melissa has been compounded by unanswered questions around her death.
The family say they were only told of significant injuries found on her body months later. This included a fractured C-spine and what one doctor recorded as a 'highly suspicious' carotid artery injury.
In a referral from a hospital doctor to the coroner's office following her death, it was also stated that Melissa's passing 'may have been caused or contributed to by violence'.
No toxicology testing was carried out while the 34 year-old was in hospital, which the family says has left them unable to understand the young woman's state-of-mind at the time of her passing.
The wrong date of death was initially recorded on her death certificate, while a hospital discharge summary was issued while she was still on life support.
CCTV footage showing Melissa's final moments was also not immediately seized by police, and ended up being viewed by her sister Emily after the family visited premises close to where her sister was found.
These concerns have all been flagged with West Sussex Coroner's Office, which is currently investigating the mum-of-two's death, Barbara Core said.
However, she says the family have been left disappointed with communications with the coroner's office on these issues.
'These were basic things that should never have gone wrong,' Barbara Core said. 'We feel stonewalled every time we ask for answers.'
In response, a spokesperson for West Sussex Coroner's Office said it could not comment on the young woman's case until an inquest into her sudden death concludes.
Charity 'extremely saddened' over death
Brighton and Hove City Council, which oversees adult safeguarding in the city, said: 'While we are unable to comment in any detail, the circumstances are being considered by the coroner.
'We have no contact details for the family but would welcome them getting in touch… including the possibility of a review by the Safeguarding Adults Board.'
In a statement to
The Journal
, a spokesperson for CGL, the support service Melissa had engaged with, said they are 'extremely saddened' by her death
'We take any concerns very seriously…but we cannot comment further while the coroner's investigation is underway,' they said.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust confirmed that only routine blood tests were carried out on Melissa, and that samples were discarded as no request had been made to retain them.
The Trust said procedures were followed, and expressed regret that no further assistance could be offered to the Core family.
Separately, Sussex Police told
The Journal
a 'thorough investigation' found no evidence of third-party involvement in Melissa's death, and that the matter has been referred to the coroner.
A full inquest into Melissa's death is expected to be heard later this year. Her family say they will continue to push for answers until every question has been addressed.
'Melissa was not a statistic,' Emily said. 'She was our sister, our daughter, our mother.
'She deserved dignity in life and in death. Her voice was ignored while she was alive, we will not let it be ignored now.'
If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, you can reach out for support through the following helplines. These organisations also put people in touch with long-term supports:
Samaritans
116 123 or email
jo@samaritans.org
Text About It
- text HELLO to 50808
(mental health issues)
Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
Pieta House
1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444 – (suicide, self-harm)
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