Glasgow mum Stephanie Bonner calls on Holyrood to back her campaign

Brave Stephanie Bonner is campaigning for better support from police for families left to cope with the unexplained death of loved ones.

Her son Rhys, 19, was discovered lifeless in marshland between Easterhouse and Gartloch Village on August 8, 2019. His death certificate says the cause was 'unascertained' - with Stephanie claiming that she does not even know where his body was found.

She has now taken her fight to Holyrood as she addressed members of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee to explain how her life was torn apart after her son’s death - and plead for MSPs' help affecting change.

The 39-year-old told the chamber: “Rhys was my first-born child, he was healthy, he was happy and he was loved by his family and friends. He looked forward to living his life to the fullest and I shared his ambitions and dreams. But his life ended at 19, just before these could start to come to fruition. 

"Rhys was a loving caring boy, he didn't bother anyone and he didn't get into trouble. He was a happy-go-lucky teenager who had his whole life ahead of him. He had a career to establish, he had true love to find and a family to build. He had his whole future ahead of him.

“The day he went missing was the day that my nightmare started and my world changed forever. The loss of a child is every parent's worst fear.  

“I will never know with any certainty what happened to him and this is the conclusion I will take to my grave.”

Police Scotland claim the death was fully investigated and declared it to be 'not suspicious'.

Rhys Bonner (Image: Supplied)

Stephanie was giving evidence today to the committee led by deputy convenor David Torrance MSP, who praised the mum for her bravery.

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Stephanie, who broke down in tears several times during her evidence,  wants Police Scotland to improve the way that unexplained deaths are dealt with. She also called for more empathy for families left in the dark over what has happened to their loved one.

She is rallying MSPs and the Scottish Government to push the force to review practices from the initial recovery of a body through to the support that it offers to grieving family members.

She told the committee: “Rhys's half-naked e body was found on a Thursday afternoon and the investigation was officially closed the following Monday. It was categorised as a missing person found with no suspicious circumstances. 

"The police have at least two different sets of coordinates of where Rhys' body was found. I went to lay flowers at one I was given only to be told by local people that I was in the wrong location. I wanted to see where my son died, and where he took his last breath.

“I am a wee mammy from Barlanark, and I am not accustomed to talking to politicians, especially in such surroundings.  I want to describe my pain and the void left when a child or loved one dies and there is no explanation given. 

 “After the initial shock, in my case, I felt like I had been struck with an arrow straight through my heart. Naturally, the first question you ask is 'what happened?'

 “But imagine there was no explanation given to you. Imagine how you would feel. You've lost your loved one forever and there is no explanation whatsoever. 

 “This is what families face when they lose their loved ones to what police categorise as an unexplained death. People can't move on, they are left thinking about every possible scenario night after night, week after week and soon months turn into years."

Community activist Alex O’Kane, who lodged the petition to parliament on Stephanie’s behalf, says the mum-of-four has been unfairly left in limbo and thanked memebers for listening to her plight.

He added: “The Bonner family have been through so much. It was hugely important for Stephanie to have her voice heard in Holyrood.

 “She still isn’t sure of the exact location of where her son’s body was discovered. That just isn't right. She still can’t lay flowers at the spot where her son was discovered with any certainty and lessons need to be learned from what she has gone through to make this process better for other families."

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We previously told how a Complaint Handling Review report from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) examined the way in which Police Scotland handled complaints Stephanie made about them. 

Pirc found that of the 26 complaints lodged, four were not dealt with by the force to a reasonable standard. Recommendations include possible evidence being relooked at, new statements being taken from officers and explanations and information being given to the Bonner family. 

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, divisional commander for Greater Glasgow, said: "The loss of a loved one has a devastating impact on families and our focus is always on providing them with the individual support needed, regardless of where they are or their circumstances.

"Rhys Bonner's family were provided with a dedicated officer as their specific point of contact when he was reported missing to provide this support and update them on the investigation.

"Following complaints from the family about Police Scotland's handling of the case, an offer was made to meet with Stephanie Bonner by our Professional Standards Department and that offer remains open.

"We received a Complaint Handling Review from the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner on Wednesday, 30 November, 2022 which looked at how we dealt with the family’s complaints and four recommendations are being addressed."