The grief-stricken brother of a woman who died by suicide following a row with her ‘volatile’ boyfriend is calling for an urgent change to the law, saying his sister was effectively left to die after being ‘locked’ inside the man’s flat despite repeatedly voicing fears for her own life.
Danielle Haggerty was just 33 when she died in March 2023 after a series of heated and distressing arguments with her then-boyfriend, Andy Howarth.
In the hours leading up to her fatal act of self-harm, Howarth locked her in his apartment and Danielle was heard by a neighbour pleading through the letterbox to be let out before expressing suicidal thoughts.
The neighbour later told police they had heard Danielle ‘cry out in pain’ upon Howarth’s return to the property and say again she wanted to end her life.
Despite this, Howarth continued arguing with her and is alleged to have later said ‘I’m going to kill you,’ before locking her inside the flat again and leaving.
Concerned for her welfare, the neighbour contacted Greater Manchester Police. Officers attended the scene and found former hairdresser Danielle hanged, ‘unconscious and not breathing.’
Paramedics were able to restart her heart at the scene before she was taken to Tameside Hospital, where she was treated in intensive care.
She remained on life support for three days before being pronounced brain dead.
Danielle Haggerty was only 33 when she took her own life in March 2023 after a heated row with her then-boyfriend
Danielle’s brother, Jonathan Haggerty (pictured right), has started a petition calling for the introduction of a legal duty to rescue called Danielle’s Law after his sister’s death
Andy Howarth was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was later released without charge
Now, her heartbroken brother Jonathan Haggerty, 41, is calling for changes to UK law to criminalise abandoning someone in immediate danger without seeking help, particularly in domestic situations.
Jonathan, who is in the RAF, believes a legal duty of care would have forced Howarth to act, phone for help and save his sister’s life.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jonathan said: ‘Danielle’s death has been devastating. She was the best auntie to my children, and a top little sister.
‘Unfortunately, she had got into the wrong crowd but kept that part of her life private and separate from my own. That’s when she and Andy met on a mental health ward.
‘They were together for quite a few years – six to eight, I believe. But I never met him.
‘The day she died, Andy’s neighbour said he heard commotion from inside his flat. He said he’d seen Howarth lock Danielle in the flat, and she was pleading through the letterbox to be let out.
‘She said she felt unwell, that she felt suicidal. She also said she was sad about our brother, Gareth, who also died from suicide only eight weeks earlier.
‘When Andy returned to the flat, the same neighbour rang 999 because he was concerned for Danielle’s welfare.
‘He said he heard Andy say to Danielle, ‘I’m going to kill you,’ and she cried out for help. Then the flat went completely silent, Andy left and locked her in the flat for a second time.
‘The police came shortly after.’
Former hairdresser Danielle was described by her brother as ‘a top little sister’ and ‘the best auntie’
Danielle’s Law is backed by MP Angela Rayner, who is contact with Jonathan to ‘prevent future tragedies’ of a similar nature
Officers arrived at the property at around 17.03pm according to an inquest report into Danielle’s death, but they did not gain entry until 17.08pm, forcing their way inside after finding the door locked with Danielle ‘unconscious’ inside.
Howarth returned shortly afterwards and was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and other possible offences.
According to a Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) letter issued to the Haggerty family in August 2024 into Danielle’s death, Howarth denied being present when she ended her life, or assisting her in any way.
Howarth was later released without charge.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that ‘a comprehensive file was sent to the CPS for review, after which they decided no charges would be brought against the individual.’
An appeal by the family on this was later rejected.
It was this decision that spurred father-of-three Jonathan to since launch Justice for Danielle, a petition calling for the introduction of a legal duty to rescue called Danielle’s Law, which would make it a criminal offence to abandon someone in immediate danger without seeking help.
Similar laws already exist in several other countries, however, under current UK common law, civilians are not legally required to intervene or call emergency services when another person’s life is at risk.
Jonathan says this ‘loophole’ meant no crime was committed despite the circumstances of his sister’s death.
To date, his petition has attracted more than 8,000 signatures but needs 10,000 for a government response and 100,000 to be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition, which is open until June, has gained the backing of Jonathan’s local MP and former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner.
Ms Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, said: ‘Jonathan lost his sister Danielle in incredibly tragic and upsetting circumstances and my heartfelt sympathies are with him and his family.
‘I am in contact with Jonathan and I am working with my parliamentary colleagues, including Danielle’s father’s MP, to see how together we can best support the family and help to prevent future tragedies.’
Speaking on the importance of his petition going to Parliament, Jonathan described the continuous ‘devastation’ he feels that Howarth has not been held accountable for his sister’s death simply because of the legal loophole.
He said: ‘He [Andy] should have had charges brought against him.
‘The fact this gap in the law exists where he didn’t legally have any sort of duty of care, or didn’t have to ring anyone to help her…that’s all it could’ve took, one phone call, and Danielle could still be here.
‘I have seen him on a couple of occasions, he lives close by to me. I have seen him when I am out and about with my kids, I have seen him when I am running, or shopping – things like that, and it just makes me sick.
‘It knocks me for six, especially if I have my children with me. And he is just walking around without a care in the world.
‘He is just leading his life as if nothing happened, and Danielle is dead.’
It is this reality, however, that Jonathan said motivates him every day to bring justice for Danielle and preserve her legacy, so no other family has to endure his same pain.
He said: ‘I walked away from this and thought, I want to do something about it. I don’t want something like this to happen to another family.
‘Since I started the petition and the campaign for Danielle’s Law, I’ve started noticing and being in touch with more and more families with similar stories. So, I have been working with them.
‘I believe that the more voices and the more people that come out in unity together we can show the government there is a clear gap in the law that people are able to exploit, in all different cases.’
But his plight, he said, can only be fulfilled if politicians and the public hear and acknowledge Danielle’s story.
He said: ‘The government need to put their money where their mouth is, especially with violence against women and girls, and close loopholes like this – especially in domestic violence cases.
‘People are able to exploit it and get away with the most awful, awful things.
‘Imagine you had a loved one in this situation, where they could have been saved by someone picking up the phone. I would ask – get behind this petition and sign it.
‘It churns over in my mind constantly that there was no justice for Danielle.
‘I want Danielle’s voice to be heard and prevent this from happening to anyone else.’