Photo: L-R Katie McCreath, Kym Morris, Alex Davies Jones, Sue Grey (mother of Matthew) and Kevin McKenna MP
A Staffordshire law firm has stepped in to support a grieving mother’s campaign for change after her 21-year-old son died when those around him failed to call for medical help.
KMC Legal & Finance Ltd, founded by criminal defence solicitor Katie McCreath, is working closely with the mother as she pushes for a change in UK Duty of Care laws to make it a criminal offence to ignore someone in life-threatening need.
The mother, from Sheppey, lost her son Matthew in March 2023. Despite being seriously ill for more than two days, no one in the property called for medical assistance. Police later confirmed that under current law, no offence had been committed because the individuals involved had no legal duty of care to act.
Supported by KMC Legal and the James Bulger Memorial Trust, the family recently attended a meeting at the House of Parliament with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Davies-Jones and MP Kevin McKenna to raise awareness of the issue and call for urgent reform.
Katie McCreath, Solicitor, KMC Legal & Finance, said:
“Sue came to us through Kym Morris, the Chairwoman of the James Bulger Memorial Trust. When I first heard about Matthew’s case, I was shocked to learn that no investigation was pursued because there was said to be no duty of care. It exposed a serious gap in the law.
As a mother, I find Sue’s strength and resilience remarkable. To take such loss and turn it into a campaign to protect others is extraordinary. The idea that someone can die in front of others and there is no legal duty to call for help does not sit right with any sense of justice.
There are legal barriers, of course, but they are not insurmountable. This is exactly what we are working through to put to the Law Commission.”
The campaign has gathered more than 79,000 signatures on its national petition titled “Duty of Care for Everyone Everywhere” and continues to gain momentum.
Based in Staffordshire, KMC Legal is an all-female-led law firm specialising in criminal defence, family, and civil law. The firm works nationally but remains committed to supporting families and individuals across the local community.
To support the petition, visit https://www.change.org/DutyOfCareForEveryoneEverywhere.
For legal advice or support, contact KMC Legal at www.kmc-legal.co.uk or call 0800 9494 667.
