We need answers': The parents of novichok victim hope inquiry will finally let them grieve

The parents of the woman who died in the Wiltshire novichok poisonings have said they hope an inquiry into her death will answer far-reaching questions about how the tragedy unfolded and allow the family, finally, to grieve fully for their loved one.

- Steven Morris Caroline Bannock

Caroline and Stan Sturgess said they hoped the actions of the British and Russian governments would be scrutinised during the long-awaited inquiry, which begins in Salisbury on Monday and examine how safe Britain now is from such attacks.

The pair told the Guardian how Dawn's death six years ago continued to devastate her family, but said they had been informed that hundreds of people could have been harmed by the nerve agent and were consoled that nobody else had lost their life, suggesting their daughter would have said: "It was only me, it was only me."

Caroline, who is to give a pen portrait of Dawn to the inquiry, said the idea of appearing there was daunting. "But I'm going to meet it head on," she said. "I've been looking up to the sky just saying: 'Give me a sign that you want me to do this.' I can hear Dawn's voice: 'Go on, mum, you show them.'"

Caroline, a retired civil servant, said she had "detached herself" since Dawn's death. “I don't cry anymore. This has hardened me a lot. Nothing seems important anymore. I'm totally shut down."