Grieving mum of drink-drive student, 21, who killed herself in prison shares heartbreaking birthday letter
Katie Allan was found dead in her cell in Polmont prison, near Falkirk, Scotland, just weeks after her 21st birthday
THE grieving mum of a drink-drive student who killed herself in prison has shared one of her heartbreaking final letters from her daughter.
Katie Allan was found dead in her cell in Polmont prison, near Falkirk, Scotland, just weeks after her 21st birthday.
Today her mum Linda shared the birthday letter she sent to her two months before she died.
The handwritten message said: “I can’t wait to get home Mum - really missing the simple things like a cuppa out a mug that ain’t plastic and the freedom to talk to you openly without being watched.
“I love you with all my heart Mum. You’re quite literally the best Mum in the world. I love you, Katie.”
Katie, a geography student at Glasgow University, last June while serving 16 months for drink-drive hit-and-run.
'I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART MUM'
She hit 15-year-old Michael Keenan after downing four cans of cider.
The student claimed she did not know she had hit the teen and Michael’s parents begged she was spared a custodial term.
Tragic Katie was later found dead in her cell – just three weeks before she was to be released on tag.
Her mum has today recalled the last birthday she spent with Katie.
Linda wrote: “We were not allowed to give you watercolour paints for your birthday. It was against the rules.
“We saw you for 45 minutes and bought you crisps and a drink."
Linda also posted a picture of Katie on what would have been her 22nd birthday.
She wrote "We love and miss you every second of every day."
Linda, from Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, added that her birthday "gift" was a promise to change the way young people are treated in prison.
Her mother also shared an email from her daughter, written two months before she died, in which Katie wrote about missing the simple things in life and told Linda: "I love you with all my heart mum."
HEARTBREAKING BIRTHDAY LETTER
Linda and her family are campaigning for radical reform of the way the courts and prisons deal with mental health since their daughter’s death last year, which they
She posted today: “Happy 22nd birthday Katie.
“Our gift to you is our promise - to try and change the way so many young people are treated in prison.
“We love you and miss you every second of every day.”
Katie took her own in June last year with parents Linda and Stuart claiming prison staff failed to accept warnings their daughter was vulnerable.
The Allans revealed 40% of all prison deaths in the last decade were suicides.
Katie's parents want greater mental health support for younger inmates.
Linda also wanted to outline how this is becoming a huge issue in Scottish prisons.
She said: "Our campaign attempts to present to government ministers, academics and society the stark reality of what is going on in the halls of our prisons - no gloss over, no excuses, no spin, no soundbites."
The Scottish Government are expected to release a report
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123.
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