I always knew DWP made Jodey lose hope... justice shouldn't have taken 8yrs

Mum wins her fight for cause of daughter's suicide to be recognised

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

A MUM has won her eight-year fight for justice as an inquest ruled benefits being wrongly cut led to her daughter's suicide.

Joy Dove, 71, refused to give up until 42-year-old Jodey Whiting's true cause of death was recognised.

Joy has been vindicated as a coroner found Jodey's mental health deteriorated when her benefits were stopped incorrectly by the Depart-ment for Work and Pensions.

The inquest was told she lost hope which led to her taking her life.

For years Joy's battle was champi-oned by the Mirror and our Real Britain columnist Ros Wynne-Jones.

Clare Bailey, senior coroner for Teesside, recorded a verdict of suicide due to mum-of-nine Jodey's deteriorating mental state caused by the benefits decision.

The coroner praised the family's campaign.

Joy, of Norton on Teesside, said after the ruling: "I have always believed Jodey took her life due to failings by the DWP. The coroner has confirmed that mistakes made by the DWP in the way they handled Jodey's case caused her death.

“It should not have taken an eight-year fight for justice to get where we are today.

"It has been an uphill battle trying to get answers and accountability.