The Cattigans’ Response to the SRU Media Release
August 2023
Morven and Neil Cattigan have given PINK Concussions’ permission to post their statement.
We have been made aware of an SRU media release in relation to the completion of their controlled ‘fact-finding exercise.’ A report they have authored, edited and been in full command of the narrative. We; Siobhan’s parents, family and loved ones, have had no part in this ‘exercise’. Had we not agonisingly opened our tortured hearts to the media one year ago, the SRU would simply have allowed the circumstances surrounding Siobhan’s passing to have conveniently been consigned to history.
Our daughter deserves more. Siobhan deserves proper and fitting recognition for her outstanding contribution to sport. She gave 5 years, and ultimately her life, to Scottish rugby. We are heartwarmed by those who ensure her legacy lives on with charities; tournaments; matches; shields; trophies; match kits and fundraising dedicated in her honour.
This ‘fact-finding exercise’ was initiated on the back of newspaper articles, which contained a tiny synopsis of Siobhan’s story, and there followed an interrogation of WhatsApp messages and telephone conversations (instigated by the Scotland women’s team doctor to us) at the time Siobhan was seriously ill. Messages and calls that conveyed our desperation for Siobhan to receive proper medical care, (any medical care) pleading with them to understand that something catastrophic had happened in Siobhan’s brain and we were terrified for her. Those messages also made abundantly clear the negative impact the controlling, bullying, intimidating and misogynistic cultures within the SRU had on her. Siobhan kept a journal detailing the toxic environment and alarming lack of welfare experienced by her and several other teammates with a view to one day writing a book so that future players would be better protected. The medical care that Siobhan desperately needed was never provided and she passed away 4 weeks later.
We have never been invited to discuss all the circumstances surrounding these failings. We gave the SRU our mentally and physically healthy daughter, a young woman with a huge zest for life. What we got back was Siobhan damaged beyond recognition, her brain broken.
Perhaps there is no real surprise that we have been effectively excluded from the ‘fact-finding exercise.’ The offer to be involved came 16 months after Siobhan’s passing and came on the back of public pressure and intervention by a member of the Scottish Parliament and at a time when the fact-finding was more or less complete. Then by refusing to disclose to us the terms of reference or indeed if the findings would be published, the SRU effectively ensured that we could not be involved.
Perhaps they don’t want to discover the facts because that would mean having to acknowledge serious mistakes and then dealing with them. When we asked about the ‘fact finders’ remit, we were told that we were ‘a third party’ and not entitled to know about the scope or purpose of what was taking place. From the outset we have felt the SRU has little interest in the truth and appear to wish to cover up the circumstances surrounding our daughter’s death. It is for this reason that we have called for a fully independent review. If the SRU had nothing to hide, they would surely welcome this.
In their press release the SRU notes that Siobhan’s passing is the subject of an investigation by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and say that they will fully engage with them. They are legally bound to co-operate with the COPFS and hopefully this investigation will establish the truth and allow changes to be made to better ensure the safety, welfare, wellbeing and protection of athletes going forward.
We would also expect the SRU to provide the COPFS with the complete and unredacted report arising from the ‘fact finding exercise,’ undertaken on their behalf by the law firm Pinsent Masons.
The SRU say they are taking legal advice from Pinsent Masons in relation to what can be made public from their report while insisting that the law firm is independent. How can the law firm, employed by the SRU, be independent?
We understand that because of failures in the duty of care to Siobhan, certain things have improved in the way elite women players are now treated by those representing the SRU. Despite previously being asked not to communicate with us, former teammates of Siobhan’s have talked about their demands for change. We are referring to how players are spoken to, as human beings not commodities, the selection process, welfare, the workload, being offered the same support as their male counterparts. What improvements there have been are due to Siobhan’s passing, yet this has never been publicly acknowledged. A colleague of one of the medical team involved reached out to us to express their alarm at negligent aspects of Siobhan’s care.
The ‘if in doubt campaign’ referenced in the SRU press release is for grass root players. However, had they practiced what they preach, both in the 6 Nations game against Wales and the numerous brain injuries Siobhan suffered before and after that, she would still be with us. It is only words, a strap-line that works perfectly on posters but not so well when human beings need to do the right thing at the appropriate time. Elite players’ brains are as much at risk as grassroot players.
The SRU trumpets its Brain Health Clinic for retired players, launched in Scotland last year. It is difficult for us to read about this when some of the people behind this initiative are the same people who denied Siobhan proper medical care.
In direct contrast to their manicured words, the SRU have never directly contacted us to discuss what happened to Siobhan. Their ‘letter of condolence’ was amongst an attachment to an email sent by their comms dept.
Had they shown an iota of compassion, humanity or basic decency, the prospect of litigation would have been avoided. Instead, they have deflected, denied, and deferred in the hope that they can kick the can down the road long enough so that those now in positions of power will have long departed by the time the truth emerges. Every press release has been carefully composed, scrutinised and polished by the SRU’s lawyers and its comms team. We don’t have that kind of support but when you tell the truth, you don’t need PR people.
We will continue the fight for justice for Siobhan. We want to meet with, and put forward proposals to, the First Minister and urgently request that research, education, funding and awareness be committed to female athletes, specifically focusing on the facts surrounding their greater risk of brain injuries.
We feel the government needs to take control of how brain injuries are treated in sport. The Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) has been funded by sporting bodies who have brands to protect. The CISG has not protected athletes’ welfare. What we need is an independent, unbiased panel, free from sporting organisations' influence. Change needs to happen now. Sticking heads in the sand hasn’t worked. Allow players to make an informed choice, with all the facts. All women need to be treated as worthy of specialist medical care and proper monitoring with regard to their welfare. Basically, treated as men are.
World Rugby knew the risks to players from receiving repeated brain injuries. Scottish Rugby knew. Siobhan didn’t. We didn’t.
Finally, we ask the Scottish Rugby Union to acknowledge that pivotal changes have been implemented because of the failures surrounding Siobhan’s passing and therein ensure that the sport will be safer for those coming after her. That is a true legacy Siobhan herself would champion.
We are Siobhan’s voice and we will continue her story.
Neil and Morven Cattigan #RememberSiobhan
For additional info
August 3, 2023 UK Times “Siobhan Cattigan death: Parents step up attack on ‘misogynistic’ SRU”
March 2023 Video PINK Concussions 2023 Sports Award: Siobhan Cattigan - YouTube
March 2023 Neil’s Remarks at the PINK Concussions Awards
July 2022 UK TImes Siobhan Cattigan: ‘They fixed her broken bones but turned their back on her broken brain’
On Twitter see #RememberSiobhan