Edinburgh Council issues statement on child deaths family

The council has this afternoon issued the statement below to clarify the situation surrounding the Riggi family whose three children were found dead in a flat yesterday

Council statement on the Riggi family issued by the press office and published in full here:

“Yesterday we saw a tragic incident unfold in the Slateford area of the City. Our thoughts are with those affected but it is important to provide some details surrounding the situation from the Council’s perspective.

Prior to yesterday we had no knowledge of the family or of their presence in Edinburgh. We received a phonecall yesterday afternoon from lawyers regarding the court proceedings involving the family. The court’s ruling was then faxed through to us at 15:05. In this fax we were asked to assist with the family’s situation if and when they were found by the messenger at arms (representing the court).

It is also important to make clear that there was no social work case involving the family while they were in Aberdeenshire. Therefore there was no case to handover. The only point from which we as an authority would have become involved was from yesterday after we received notification from the court.

The Police notified us of the incident at Slateford Road at 15:00 on Wednesday.