Mackay mother speaks out after her child overdoses at North Mackay home

A Mackay mother has spoken out after her child overdosed at a North Mackay home in a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves across the community

A frustrated mother of one of the Mackay children who overdosed inside a North Mackay home is pushing to change “ridiculous” legislation she believes is stopping her from keeping her only child safe.

Under current laws she said her only rights as the parent of the troubled 15 year old was “to either pick up the pieces at mental health or to pick up a body”.

Sarah (named changed for legal reasons) met with Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert this week “to start a ball rolling”.

“I’m not going to stop until something’s changed,” she said.

It is any parent’s worst nightmare.

Her teenager Charlie (named changed for legal reasons) was among the six children, aged 12 to 16, rushed to Mackay Base Hospital on September 30 after ingesting an unknown substance believed to be a drug.

Jerome Banu went into cardiac arrest at the Malcomson St home just after 10.20am last Thursday – tragically he died in hospital.

Jerome Banu, 15, died after a mass ingestion incident at a Malcolmson Street home in North Mackay on Thursday, September 30. He died in Mackay Base Hospital on Friday, October 1, 2021. Picture: Supplied

Sarah said she only found out about the horror incident after her mother sent a text message asking if Charlie was involved.

She tried calling the teen but received no reply, so she rang the hospital.

“My stomach was in knots,” she said.

On learning her teen was in the emergency department Sarah said she screamed and asked a hospital worker if her child was alive.

“She said I can’t tell you,” Sarah said.

At the hospital she said she was greeted with “you can’t see your (child)”.

“I said you are kidding,” Sarah said.

“As a parent I have no right because there is a legislation that says they have free will.

“I’m basically there to pick up the pieces or if my child damages something I’m liable for it or … ends up in jail or court I’m responsible then.”

Police on scene at a North Mackay home after six children aged 12 to 16, overdosed after ingesting an unknown substance. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Sarah said she had to beg Charlie over text message to be allowed in emergency.

“It was horrible,” she said.

Sarah said she “doesn’t have a leg to stand on” when it comes to enforcing any rules on her 15 year old because of this legislation, despite the fact her teenager had run away from home and was using drugs.

She described Charlie has a “dream child” who had difficulty making friends as a primary student before falling in with the wrong crowd about age 12 to 13.

The teen had run away from home when the shock incident occurred. Since the overdose Charlie had run away from home again.

“(Charlie) just walks out of the house and there’s nothing I can do about it,” Sarah said.

“Something has to change, I’m not going to stop until it does.”

Sarah posted a heartfelt message on social media after reading multiple hurtful comments blaming parents for the incident.

“There were some horrible comments for the parents,” she said.

“I didn’t have a say in it, I didn’t know what was going on.”

Police are still investigating the incident.

Legal expert Bill Potts said there was “no clean or clear best result” when it came to children who did not want to remain at home.

“If the kid doesn’t want to stay at home, often the parents … have to wait,” the former Queensland Law Society president said.

“They (the authorities) won’t force children to live at home or receive visits from parents.

“From the parents point, it must be heartbreaking.”

Under the Family Court Act, children could actually separate from and divorce their parents, he said.

Mr Potts said while these legal avenues existed, they were not often used.

“By the time they are 14 to 15 they might have the physical maturity of an adult, but the mental maturity of a child and they tend to vote with their feet,” he said.

“If they don’t want to be somewhere, they’ll leave.”