Gordon Banks attends Rememberance Ceilidh to celebrate the life of Menstrie toddler Muireann McLaughlin

28 April 2008

In February 2008, two year old Muireann McLaughlin died after becoming entangled in the cord from a loop blind in her bedroom and this has prompted calls for a change in legislation on loop blind cords.   On April 25th Muireann’s parents held a charity ceilidh in her memory, at Broomhall Castle in Menstrie, with the proceeds going to the Make a Wish Foundation, British Heart Foundation and Menstrie Nursery.

Local MP Gordon Banks, who has been leading a campaign at Westminster for increased safety for looped blind cords, was invited to the Ceilidh and was presented with a 3,500 strong petition demanding more stringent controls on blind cords.

Gordon Banks said, “I felt privileged to attend a ceilidh that celebrated the life of a very special young child whose life has been tragically cut short, but who will never be forgotten.  It is of paramount importance that action is taking regarding looped blind cords and that is why I am campaigning in Westminster to get the legislation changed.”
“A petition calling for a change in legislation has already received 3,500 signatures and I will be submitting this to the House of Commons in the coming weeks.”

“As part of my campaign at Westminster, I have already instigated a debate and tabled an early day motion which has attracted the support of 78 of my colleagues on a cross party basis from all around the UK.”
“I held a subsequent meeting with the Innovation and Skills Minister Ian Pearson and I am pleased that new European Union regulations regarding loop blind cords will be introduced in June 2008, however this will take the form of a voluntary code and I do not feel that this goes far enough.” 

Gordon Banks continued “I would like to see more compulsory regulation in the manufacturing of loop cord blinds and I have been reassured that Ministers and Officials from the UK will table another position paper to our EU partners, requesting a move from a voluntary standing to a compulsory redesign of the blinds. 

“I will be meeting with representatives from the British Standards Institute and British Blinds and Shutters Association in order to stress the importance of the need for change.  In the meantime, I will be doing my utmost to keep the matter in the public eye; after all, household items should not be responsible for the death of children.”

“Although tinged with sadness, the charity ceilidh held in Muireann’s honour was a great success and The Make a Wish Foundation, British Heart Foundation and Menstrie Nursery will all benefit from the generosity of those who attended.  I think Menstrie Nursery’s plans to construct a memorial to Muireann in their new garden will also act as a fitting way to honour her memory.   The strength of the McLaughlin family unit in such a difficult time has been remarkable, especially their efforts in pushing for legislative changes in the production of loop blind cords so that no other family should experience the same suffering.”