Syringe found by a four-year-old girl in Bell Green Library

[dutchman]

A syringe found by a four-year-old girl in a Coventry library toilet had been used, her mum has discovered.



The find sparked a health scare for Harlo-Star Mackey, who picked up the syringe while using the loo at the Coventry City Council-run Bell Green Library on Tuesday.

She found it on the cubicle floor, as the Telegraph reported earlier today, and thought it was a toy.

The girl put it in her pocket and showed her mum what she’d found after they left the premises and were on their way home in a taxi.

It was unclear whether someone had used the syringe before Harlo-Star picked it up.

The syringe was unwrapped but had its lid on.

Her shocked parents removed the lid and saw the needle was bent, but could find no evidence of use.

Harlo-Star’s mum India later took the syringe to a local GP who she says told her the syringe had been used.

“The doctor gave it the once over,” said the mum-of-three, “and said it had definitely been used.

“She said there was no way the needle could bend on its own.

“She said it’s from where someone tried to push in into their arm.”

The doctor also gave Harlo-Star a check-up and her mum was relieved to hear her daughter had not been harmed.

In a statement released to the Telegraph, Coventry City Council said it is investigating the incident and “will address any concerns that are identified in its findings”.

India is delighted to hear action is being taken to prevent it from happening again.

She said: “I’m glad that the issue’s been highlighted.

“It’s just a shame that it’s happened like this.

“Hopefully people will be more vigilant when it comes to things like this in future.”