The family of a Scottish rugby player who died at the age of 26 has joined the brain injury lawsuit against the authorities of the game.
Siobhan Cattigan tragically passed away in November but the cause of death was first revealed in an interview published in the Sunday Times.
The article describes Cattigan’s devastating decline after head injuries in February 2020 and April 2021 and serious concerns expressed by her mother, Morven, and father, Neil, about how she was allowed to continue playing, the behavior of those at the camp in Scotland, and the amount of support she received, both internally and from external caregivers.
The Sunday Times reported “it had come to the point where she could no longer live with the pain in her head and Siobhan succumbed to an irrational thought and impulsive action”.
While claiming that something catastrophic had happened to Siobhan’s brain, her mother said, “As time went on, I compared it to dementia, because I couldn’t think of anything that would change a personality so massively, something that you as a person.”
Her father said, ‘They have repaired her broken bones, but have turned their backs on Siobhan’s broken brain. Believing it was avoidable, knowing you trusted people you shouldn’t have trusted only makes me feel more guilty.
“I was the one who brought rugby into this family, and the reason she started playing was because she was with me. Rugby gave her the happiest days and memories – and after all, rugby is the reason she’s not here.”
Scottish Rugby said in a statement: “Our condolences and thoughts remain with the Cattigan family and from the start we have offered our full support to Neil & Morven.
“The mental and physical well-being of all our players and people is at the heart of Scottish rugby. We have excellent and dedicated colleagues across the organization who are committed to delivering high standards of medical care and wellness support when needed.
“Scottish Rugby has developed multiple ways in which mental health support can be provided and used, including through independent third-party providers. However, due to medical confidentiality, we are unable to provide details or comment on individuals.
“Scotland’s rugby community is close-knit – many people in Scottish rugby and around the world were deeply saddened by Siobhan’s passing and are still affected by it, having known her and spent time with her throughout her rugby career . We will continue to support them if necessary.”