Queensland Premier David Crisafulli calls for investigation into Lauren Ingrid Flanigan’s death
The Queensland Premier has demanded a full investigation into Lauren Ingrid Flanigan’s death, days after she allegedly murdered her three-year-old daughter.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has demanded a full investigation into the jailhouse death of a Bundaberg mother, just days after she allegedly murdered her three-year-old daughter.
Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was found unresponsive in a cell where she was on remand after allegedly stabbing her daughter Sophia Rose in the front yard of their Moore Park Beach home, north of Bundaberg.
Flanigan was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition after being found unresponsive in Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre on Friday, and died on Sunday night.
At a press conference on Monday, Mr Crisafulli said a full investigation was needed to determine how the mother of three died while in custody.
“I think it’s important that we don’t brush it under the carpet, and this is the proof that there are some explanations that are needed,’’ he said.
“We owe it to everyone involved, people who work in the facility, families of people who tragically lost their life, to get to the bottom of it and we will.”
Mr Crisafulli said his government aimed to improve corrective services in an effort to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
“We do have a big focus on making sure that we bring some of the facilities that have been sitting in the pipeline for too long, bring them to market, and also look at other ways of making sure that we can accommodate people safely,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“I do believe that you have to have a framework where there are clear and defined consequences for actions, to act as a deterrent, and for those who do need to be held in custody, we have a duty to provide safety.”
Emergency services had been called to Flanigan’s front yard early last Monday morning, where they found the mother alongside Sophia’s body. The three-year-old had suffered multiple wounds.
Police seized a bladed knife from the scene.
Flanigan was arrested and charged with murder shortly after.
Sophia’s father, Jai Ruane, said the system designed to protect his daughter had “failed”.
“This could have easily been prevented,” Mr Ruane said.
“The system failed us and now my daughter, Sophia, has paid for it with her life.”
Mr Ruane was not at the home at the time of the alleged murder.
Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said he wished his team hadn’t had to witness the gruesome scene they were confronted with at Flanigan’s home last week.
“It was a horrific scene, a terrible incident for everybody – including the witnesses, including the emergency services, police and ambulance officers who attended and the investigators doing the ongoing investigation,” Superintendent Inskip said.
“This is not something we ever want to attend and want our people to have to deal with.”
On Sunday night, Moore Park Community Association held a vigil for Sophia, where attendees donned pink glitter and lit candles in her memory.
Additional reporting: Newswire
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