THE devastated parents of Greenock baby girl Sophia Smith and their supporters hope a Fatal Accident Inquiry will finally uncover the truth about her tragic death seven years ago.

Greenock Telegraph:

Theresa and Matthew Smith have been fighting health board bosses for answers after their 12 day old baby died on April 11 2017.

This week the Crown Office announced that there will be an FAI held to examine the full circumstances surrounding Sophia's death at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Brave mum Theresa has repeatedly called for justice and spoken to the Telegraph about the trauma of her baby's death.

She also took part in the ongoing public inquiry into the safety of the controversial 'super hospital' following patient deaths and cases where they contracted infections.

Now West of Scotland MSP Paul O'Kane who took up their cause and campaigned for justice says he will keep fighting until the couple get answers.

It comes three years after he confronted then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in parliament.

Speaking about the FAI, Mr O'Kane said: "Matthew and Theresa Smith are still waiting for the truth, something they should never have had to ask for, never mind fight for.

"They need closure and they need to be able to grieve for their baby girl. They can't do that until they know what happened.

“I can only hope that for their sake and for the memory of Sophia, that the full unredacted truth is delivered through this fatal accident inquiry.”

“I will support them in their fight for answers, for Sophia, to the very end."

The West of Scotland list MSP says that finally Sophia's parents will get their chance to have their say in a legal setting.

Mr O'Kane added: "I think what is very important is that Theresa and Matthew will get the chance to have their say for the first time. This is in front of a sheriff and there will be a legal judgement.

"There will be people who have to reflect on that judgement and what actions they should take."

In the Scottish Parliament two years ago the MSP confronted Nicola Sturgeon about the death of baby Sophia.

Ms Sturgeon said that her government was not trying to 'cover things up' but was 'determined to get to the truth'.

Mr O'Kane said: "Despite Nicola Sturgeon telling us in 2021 that the public inquiry was about getting to the truth, there are still two parents with unanswered questions about the death of their baby girl."

The Lord Advocate has confirmed that it is in the public interest to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry to examine the full circumstances surrounding Sophia's tragic death.

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for the Crown Office, said: “The Lord Advocate has decided that a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held into the causes of this tragic death to ensure that there can be a full public hearing of the facts of the case.

“The Procurator Fiscal has now started work to initiate this inquiry and there are a number of legal steps which must be taken before it can commence.

“Sophia’s family will be kept informed of what will happen next.”

In the public statement the Crown Office said that after giving the case careful consideration, it concluded, based on the available evidence, that there will be no criminal proceedings brought as a result of the death.

But they went on to say that should additional evidence come to light that decision may be reconsidered by the Lord Advocate.

Little Sophia died on April 11 2017 after contracting a hospital infection, MSSA-PVL, similar to MRSA.

Mum Theresa called for a fatal accident inquiry almost immediately following her baby's death.

Greenock Telegraph: Theresa and Matthew in happier times

She later told the ongoing public inquiry into safety concerns at the hospital and links to infections that at the time of Sophia's death doctors said that it was an isolated incident.

The parents of Sophia are unable to comment because of legal restrictions.