Shropshire suicide worker's inquest told of bullying claims at dairy factory

Doral Tyrell told the inquest that her daughter Megan was the butt of practical jokes and given cruel nicknames while working at the factory in Market Drayton.

But a human resources officer from the yoghurt giant, , which employs more than 800 people, told the hearing at Shrewsbury's Guildhall yesterday that Miss Tyrell had never complained of bullying to them.

The inquest heard Miss Tyrell had resigned from the factory in January last year following long periods of sick leave.

She told Muller's occupational health worker Helen Lewis she was handing her notice in because she had broken her hand and feared she would be sacked if she took any more time off.

Mrs Lewis, giving evidence, said Miss Tyrell indicated she wanted to withdraw her resignation and return to work once it was explained to her that would not be the case.

But Muller bosses refused to have her back, the hearing was told.

Miss Tyrell was found by police at the flat she lived at alone in Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, on February 10.

Mrs Lewis said she had received a text from Miss Tyrell telling her she intended to kill herself, and officers also found a note at the house addressed to her parents.

Mrs Tyrell told the inquest her daughter, who had been at Muller for five years, was very unhappy at work.

She said: "She spoke to me of being bullied by other members of staff.

"They would play practical jokes on her, like on one occasion where they sent her to look all around the factory for a person who was not even there.

"She was called 'Alzheimer's' because people said she forgot everything and she generally thought she could not do anything right."

Shropshire coroner Mr John Ellery asked Muller's HR officer Caroline Evans: "Did Miss Tyrell ever raise any concerns about being bullied?"

"No, nothing," Mrs Evans replied. "In fact, on her return to work, she was asked if there was any situation we could put her in that would make her feel uncomfortable. She said no."

Recording a verdict of suicide, Shropshire coroner Mr John Ellery said to the family: "I know how you feel about Muller but this is not an investigation into their healthcare and discipline issues.

"I acknowledge your daughter told you she had problems and concerns.

"The conclusion I reach is inevitable I am afraid.

"It's clear from her text, and it's clear from her death note that she intended to kill herself.

"She was a gifted young lady and it is a tragic loss, but I have to record from the evidence that her death was suicide."

Megan's mother Mrs Tyrell told the hearing the family also felt mental health services had failed their daughter.

"All they kept doing was telling her she was depressed and giving her tablets," she said.