Bridge tragedy girl was 'happy' and 'excited' weeks before death

Social worker Susan Ainley said she last saw Georgia Rowe "giggling back to the girls" after she dropped her off from a day trip.

The 14-year-old was a resident at the Good Shepherd Centre in Renfrewshire and Ms Ainley had travelled from Hull to take her out for the day.

The pair went shopping in Glasgow on September 9 2009, where they bought Georgia some new clothes and had lunch.

But, on October 4 2009, the teenager and her friend, Niamh Lafferty, 15, died when they fell more than 100ft from the Erskine Bridge.

Niamh was also a resident at the Good Shepherd Centre.

Ms Ainley told a fatal accident inquiry into the two deaths at Paisley Sheriff Court: "She told me she was really happy.

"She was very happy that day. She was excited about being taken out.

"I took her back to the secure unit and we pulled into the car park.

The other girls were all excited to see her and she ran back to them.

"She was really giggling and smiling. I just remember her walking away, and turning and waving, and then giggling back to the girls."

Procurator fiscal John Watt asked her: "Was that the last time you saw Georgia?"

Ms Ainley replied: "Yes. It was the last time I saw her."

Georgia was in the care of Hull City Council but spent the early part of her life living with her aunt, Tanya Oliver, in Scotland.

Ms Oliver took Georgia into her care at the age of nine months because her birth mother was unable to look after her.

Ms Oliver adopted two of Georgia's siblings but did not formally adopt the teenager.

In June 2008, Georgia was taken into care after her behaviour deteriorated and returned to live in a children's home in Hull.

She moved to the Good Shepherd Centre in April 2009.

Around the time of Ms Ainley's visit, it appeared that Georgia's relationship with her aunt had broken down.

Ms Ainley, a team leader in the social work division of Hull City Council, said the team caring for Georgia had formed the impression that contact with her aunt was upsetting the 14-year-old.

She said: "We were getting the impression that Tanya was triggering some of Georgia's difficult behaviour by giving her information that would upset her.

"Georgia had been told that her mother was knocking on relatives' doors begging for money because she was using drugs again.

"Information like that would traumatise Georgia. She was worried about her.

"She would get really, really upset if she thought her mum was using drugs again or was ill. She would have an outburst and that would usually lead to her having to be restrained.

"Georgia told me it was Tanya who told her that."

The inquiry was also read a diary note written by Ms Ainley after her visit to Georgia in Scotland.

It read: "Georgia told me that she feels Tanya is unable to empathise with her."

Georgia "just wanted to be loved by someone", the inquiry was told.

In a sworn statement read to the inquiry, Diane Ayre, 48, a social worker at Merlin Bridge children's home in Hull, where Georgia was placed after leaving Scotland, described her impression of the teenager.

She called Georgia by her birth name, Terrie Oliver.

She said: "Terrie was very intelligent. She was pretty and she just wanted to be loved by someone.

"When I heard of her death I was very shocked. I never thought Terrie would take her own life."

The inquiry was told that it was always the plan for Ms Oliver to adopt her niece, but it was never fulfilled.

Janice Barnby, a team leader in social care at Hull City Council, said she thought it was "difficult" for Ms Oliver to face the formal adoption process.

She told the inquiry that Georgia's natural mother had opposed the adoption of her two other children in court.

She also said the financial implications of losing her foster grant, and Georgia's worsening behaviour, may also have been factors in the adoption plan never coming to fruition.

Desmond Cheyne QC, who is representing Ms Oliver in the inquiry, asked Ms Barnby: "Hull City Council have come twice to this lady to adopt the children. She has stepped up to the plate on both occasions.

"She has had her actions to do these right things opposed by her useless sister, who has had no input whatsoever in these children's lives.

"Can you understand how she may have changed her mind?"

Ms Barnby replied: "I can understand how she didn't feel ready to do that.

"It's a very difficult situation when you are adopting your own sister's child. I do feel that the authority did what it could to shield Tanya from that situation.

"I accept that it potentially was very difficult, but it was the plan prior to Georgia being placed there."

She added: "I think it did make a difference that Georgia felt she was different from her siblings.

"There were two children that were adopted and one that wasn't. That wasn't appropriate within a family context.

"What that meant to Georgia in terms of her own identity, her own feeling of belonging - I would say that did make a difference".

The inquiry was also read a series of sworn statements from other witnesses.

Patricia Jarvis, 53, a social worker within Hull City Council's family and friends unit, said the relationship between Georgia and her aunt began to deteriorate.

In a statement, she said: "Tanya was difficult to get into contact with.

"It became clear that the relationship was deteriorating. This reached a crisis point and Georgia was removed to social care in Hull.

"Tanya was more focused on her family situation that Georgia. It was clear she was angry and hurt by Georgia."

The inquiry will continue on Monday.