A woman jailed for the horrific neglect of her toddler kept her in a "grubby" living room, a probe into the child's death has heard.
Margaret Wade, 41, and Marie Sweeney, 40, left Lauren Wade to starve to death at their filthy flat in Glasgow's Sighthill.
A judge heard how the two-year-old went without proper food or care for months and was riddled with thousands of head lice.
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On March 20 2015, a 999 call was made after the child was found to be “unresponsive”.
A "skinny and dirty" Lauren had a sodden nappy, bald patches and thousands of head lice.
She was rushed to hospital – but around 30 minutes later was pronounced dead.
Wade told nurses Lauren had been suffering from a virus for a couple of days.
A post mortem revealed the toddler had been the victim of “severe neglect”.
The High Court in Glasgow heard Lauren died due to “complications with malnutrition”.
Wade later told police she had "no guilt" over her daughter's death.
The pair were jailed in 2019 for six years and four months each.
The duo - who had been accused of killing Lauren - pled guilty to the reduced charge of neglecting the toddler between June 2014 and March 2015.
A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) lasting five weeks commenced today at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
The hearing was told that there were raised concerns at Wade's two older daughters' primary school over her dealing with their head lice treatment.
School nurse Sharon McIntyre, 52, stated that she made an unannounced visit to Wade's flat in June 2014 after the mum had cancelled a pre-arranged appointment.
Prosecutor Selina Brown asked the witness if she told Wade why she was there.
She replied: "I told her it was to talk about the children and head lice in the family.
"Mum did not want me to come into flat."
The witness claimed that she was told the flat was a "mess" but was able to persuade her to be let in.
Mrs McIntyre stated that there were toys and shoes along the hallway which she remarked was "untidy."
She added: "When I went into the living room there was a mattress on the floor in front of the TV and a large pile of clothes were on and behind the sofa.
"There was Lauren's cot in the living room as well.
"The place was grubby if not untidy.
"I remember Lauren trying to crawl up on my lap.
"I remember trying to hold her off as she was in a vest and a nappy and she was grubby so I didn't want her crawling on me."
She stated that she did not see if Lauren had head lice at the time.
The witness recalled another woman entering the living room to speak to Wade about cigarettes.
She claimed she was told by Wade that it was her cousin.
Miss Brown: "You did not know that she had a partner then?"
Miss McIntyre: "No."
Miss Brown: "If you knew this was her partner, would you have included her in the discussion?"
Miss McIntyre: "Yes."
The witness stated that Wade refused help to deal with head lice and was told she was "coping herself."
Miss Brown asked Miss McIntyre if she believed Wade was coping and she replied: "At that point, probably not."
The hearing was told that Miss McIntyre referred Wade to social work and the Positive Parenting Programme (PPP) after the visit.
Deputy head teacher Yvonne Adams, 55, recalled a meeting she had at school with Wade.
She said: "A head lice was crawling across mum's forehead and my table, I thought she was in a vulnerable position as well."
Former head teacher Anne Healy, 67, told the hearing that she also met with Wade.
Miss Brown: “How did she present?”
Miss Healy: “She kept her hood up at all times.”
Miss Brown: “The fact she kept her hood up, what would that mean?”
Miss Healy: “I think it was because she had head lice.”
Wade’s former health visitor Carol Murray, 60, claimed that she met her and Lauren 11 days after giving birth.
The witness stated that Wade was an “attentive” mother who “interacted” with her daughter.
Miss Brown: “In terms of the property, did you have concerns about what you were seeing in Margaret Wade’s house?
Miss Murray: “No, I didn’t.”
Miss Brown: “Were there any issues with Lauren Wade you would have raised with social work?”
Miss Murray: “No.”
The witness earlier claimed that she stopped being the Wade health visitor in March 2013 after taking up a new job.
The hearing continues tomorrow before Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull.
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