Parents ‘deeply offended’ by university’s lack of apology for contributing to daughter’s suicide

The parents of a Bristol University student who took her own life six years ago have said they are “deeply offended” by the way their demand for an apology from the university has been handled.

A County Court and High Court ruled that the University of Bristol contributed to the death of Natasha Abrahart in 2018, but after those rulings saw the university ordered to pay £50,000 to the student’s parents, talks between the university’s vice-chancellor , Evelyn Welch and Bob and Margaret Abrahart seem to have broken down.

Professor Welch offered to meet Natasha’s parents and said “sorry” on behalf of the university for the loss of the Abraharts, but Mr and Mrs Abrahart have so far refused a meeting, stressing that Professor Welch and the university have not apologised. for contributing to Natasha’s death.

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Natasha was a 20-year-old physics major who was diagnosed with chronic social anxiety disorder. She took her own life in April 2018, on the day she was due to give a presentation in a large lecture hall – something she had told tutors she would not be able to do.

The Abrahart family sued the university, and a County Court judge ruled that the university contributed to her death by failing to make special allowances for her disability. The university appealed but lost the appeal in February this year.

At Bristol High Court after that appeal, Natasha’s mother Margaret asked Professor Evelyn Welch to apologize for the university’s role in Natasha’s death. She also asked her to meet the family.

Since Natasha’s death, the Abraharts have become part of a national campaign by families of students who have taken their own lives, calling for student welfare to be part of the legal responsibility of universities.

Now Mr and Mrs Abrahart have released correspondence between themselves, Professor Welch and lawyers for both sides. Letters and emails reveal that Professor Welch tried to arrange a meeting but the Abraharts refused until they received an apology for the university’s role in Natasha’s death – and although Professor Welch said “I’m sorry”, she appears to have stopped before going there.

The Abrahart family said they also want an apology from the university for the way it acted after Natasha’s death, particularly in the investigation, the court cases since then and the public statements and press releases issued.

When the Abrahart family’s lawyer specified why the family wanted to apologize to the university, they received a response in late May saying Professor Welch had “no further comment to make.”

Natasha’s father is Dr. Robert Abrahart, a retired university lecturer. “For the past six years, the University of Bristol has fought tooth and nail to avoid taking responsibility for Natasha’s death,” he said.

“Maybe it was naive of me, but I thought the High Court ruling would finally make them apologize for what they did, but they didn’t. I just don’t understand why Professor Welch has instructed his lawyers that he has “no further comment to make”.

“Can’t he see how painful this is? Doesn’t she see that just saying sorry, without saying what you’re sorry for, doesn’t make sense?” he asked.

“Everyone is sorry that Natasha died, but that is not enough, not from the head of the organization that contributed to her death by repeatedly breaking the law. To say he could have done more is also completely meaningless without saying what he accepts he should have done,” he added.

Shortly after the appeal court ruling and Ms Abrahart’s call for a meeting and apology, Professor Welch wrote to the couple and said: “I know nothing I say will bring Natasha back and I accept we could have done more ok and i did” t. i’m so sorry.

“A letter can only go so far. I would like to apologize to you and your son in person and I would be happy to meet you anytime,” she added.

Natasha’s mother Margaret, a retired psychological welfare practitioner, said she was looking forward to meeting Professor Welch but would not until he had made a meaningful apology. “I am deeply disturbed that Professor Welch has refused to apologize for her university breaking the law and contributing to our daughter’s death,” she said.

“How can any current or prospective students, or their families, trust the University of Bristol if its vice-chancellor refuses to take such a basic step? The tragedy is that Bob and I were looking forward to sitting down with Professor Welch to talk about the future and try to find some closure. Now that’s been taken away from us because she won’t give anything but the vaguest of feelings,” she added.

“I cannot sit with Professor Welch unless I know that she accepts and is truly sorry for what the university has done to both Natasha and our family throughout the legal processes that have followed her death. I don’t know if he’s being told that he can’t put these things in writing, but if he is, he needs to find the moral courage to do the right thing anyway,” she added.

A University of Bristol spokesman said: “The Vice-Chancellor has written to Mr and Mrs Abrahart to offer a personal and sincere apology, with an invitation to meet her at any time – an offer that remains open.”