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- Sep 4, 2018
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Primary school teacher, 34, killed herself after sharing SATs questions with a friend and fearing she would lose her job, inquest hears
A tragic primary school teacher hanged herself after fearing she would lose her job after sharing SATs questions, an inquest heard.
Katherine Margaret Walsh, was found dead at her home by her father Denis Walsh, 66, in May of this year.
Katherine, also known as Katie, was aged 34 at the time of her death and a primary school teacher at St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic School, in Norwich.
She suffered from depression and had been 'seeing her doctor for a number of years', the inquest into her death at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard.
Katherine had managed to find out what the questions to the exams were and she had told a friend who worked at a different school.
In a statement, Mr Walsh said: 'Her friend had been caught and lost her job, but she told them Katie gave her the questions and it was likely she would lose her job too.'
Devastated Mr Walsh explained to the inquest that on the day of Katherine's death his daughter had told people she was off work sick.
Mr Walsh told the inquest how he knew to go and visit Katherine's home in the morning on 18 May after a friend had got in touch with the family.
He explained the friend had received a concerning message from Katherine during the night.
Mr Walsh said: 'My wife called me that morning asking me to check on Katie because a friend said she had messaged her to say that she loved them very much.
'My wife had been trying to contact Katie but she was not answering, so she asked me to go.'
He said when he walked into Katherine's home, in Costessey, Norfolk he said he 'screamed out her name and held her' and 'was hysterical and in shock'.
He added: 'She left a handwritten note on the bed and told me not to blame myself.'
In a second note, left on her iPad, Katherine apologised to her family and friends by writing: 'I know what I have done is going to hurt many people but I feel like this is all I can do.
'Bear in mind, I was massively depressed and feeling like this before this.'
Mr Walsh explained Katherine had been battling with depression for a number of years prior to her death.
Mr Walsh also explained in the inquest that Katherine had been suffering from depression and had been 'seeing her doctor for a number of years' and mentioned Katherine had 'tried to commit suicide in the past'.
He added: 'The issue she had at work tipped her over the edge.
'She was also about to lose her driving licence because she had been caught speeding, and she was worried about paying her mortgage if she lost her job.'
Senior coroner Jacqueline Lake found Katherine, of Brian McCarter Gardens, took her own life.
She said: 'Miss Walsh did have a history of depression and had made attempts to end her life previously.
'Concerns about her work were playing on her mind and she had been drinking alcohol before her death.
'In some cases, that does affect someone's intention, but leaving handwritten and electronic notes suggests this was what she intended.'
Mr Walsh and his family have requested donations in her memory to be made to a mental health charity for children and young people, called YoungMinds.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see Samaritans.org for details
A tragic primary school teacher hanged herself after fearing she would lose her job after sharing SATs questions, an inquest heard.
Katherine Margaret Walsh, was found dead at her home by her father Denis Walsh, 66, in May of this year.
Katherine, also known as Katie, was aged 34 at the time of her death and a primary school teacher at St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic School, in Norwich.
She suffered from depression and had been 'seeing her doctor for a number of years', the inquest into her death at Norfolk Coroner's Court heard.
Katherine had managed to find out what the questions to the exams were and she had told a friend who worked at a different school.
In a statement, Mr Walsh said: 'Her friend had been caught and lost her job, but she told them Katie gave her the questions and it was likely she would lose her job too.'
Devastated Mr Walsh explained to the inquest that on the day of Katherine's death his daughter had told people she was off work sick.
Mr Walsh told the inquest how he knew to go and visit Katherine's home in the morning on 18 May after a friend had got in touch with the family.
He explained the friend had received a concerning message from Katherine during the night.
Mr Walsh said: 'My wife called me that morning asking me to check on Katie because a friend said she had messaged her to say that she loved them very much.
'My wife had been trying to contact Katie but she was not answering, so she asked me to go.'
He said when he walked into Katherine's home, in Costessey, Norfolk he said he 'screamed out her name and held her' and 'was hysterical and in shock'.
He added: 'She left a handwritten note on the bed and told me not to blame myself.'
In a second note, left on her iPad, Katherine apologised to her family and friends by writing: 'I know what I have done is going to hurt many people but I feel like this is all I can do.
'Bear in mind, I was massively depressed and feeling like this before this.'
Mr Walsh explained Katherine had been battling with depression for a number of years prior to her death.
Mr Walsh also explained in the inquest that Katherine had been suffering from depression and had been 'seeing her doctor for a number of years' and mentioned Katherine had 'tried to commit suicide in the past'.
He added: 'The issue she had at work tipped her over the edge.
'She was also about to lose her driving licence because she had been caught speeding, and she was worried about paying her mortgage if she lost her job.'
Senior coroner Jacqueline Lake found Katherine, of Brian McCarter Gardens, took her own life.
She said: 'Miss Walsh did have a history of depression and had made attempts to end her life previously.
'Concerns about her work were playing on her mind and she had been drinking alcohol before her death.
'In some cases, that does affect someone's intention, but leaving handwritten and electronic notes suggests this was what she intended.'
Mr Walsh and his family have requested donations in her memory to be made to a mental health charity for children and young people, called YoungMinds.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see Samaritans.org for details
