A WOMAN whose daughter was cleared on appeal of murdering and neglecting her baby son has told a fatal accident inquiry his death "destroyed" their family.

The mummified remains of 15-month-old Declan Hainey were discovered in his filthy cot at a flat in Paisley, Renfrewshire, four years ago. His mother Kimberley was released from prison after appeal judges said the judge at her trial should have told jurors to disregard the evidence of two forensic experts.

Yesterday, on the first day of the inquiry at Paisley Sheriff Court into the child's death, Ms Hainey's mother, Elizabeth Rodden, 57, branded her a liar and recalled the last time she saw her grandson.

She also stated during the hearing it should be her 38-year-old daughter on the stand as she answered questions about the last time she saw her grandson alive.

Mrs Rodden, the first witness to be called, cried as she said the last time she saw Declan was on his first birthday in April 2009, just under a year before his body was found in March 2010.

Mrs Rodden, who had to pause repeatedly during her testimony, said: "This death of Declan has destroyed us.

"I didn't expect this terrible thing to happen. It's difficult when you're dealing with someone who's good at telling lies to so many people."

Mrs Rodden, of Renfrew, told sheriff Ruth Anderson her daughter was the only one who could say what had happened.

She added: "She should be here today to answer these questions.

"She ruined her family with her lies and deceit.

"We loved that baby - I can't answer to her ways of thinking."

The grandmother said her daughter at first visited her regularly and Declan would always be there because he went with her "everywhere she went."

She told the court that as time went on Hainey would keep visiting her, but Declan would never be with her. Mrs Rodden said: "I was desperate to watch him. Everywhere she went, he was there.

"We were desperate to have him overnight but we never kept him overnight. She wouldn't leave him with us."

The grandmother said she used to make up little meals for Declan, from casseroles and chicken to mince and beef, and she would put them in little pots and freeze them.

She said Kimberley would come and pick them up, along with nappies they had bought her and money they were giving her towards her electricity bills.

Mrs Rodden said Declan last stayed with her over the festive season in 2008, some 15 months before his body was found.

She added: "After that he never stayed with us again.

"I would ask Kim and she would say, 'Declan's fine, mum' but it was obviously just a made-up story. She would say he was with the neighbour."

The grandmother said her daughter would lie to her about what she and her son were doing.

She said Hainey would regularly pay her visits, without Declan, and that she would usually pop into her home on Mondays.

She added: "She would tell us wee stories about what Declan did that week. She said he was in a wee playgroup.

"She would say, 'I've got this to do, I've got that to do', but it obviously wasn't true."

The court heard Kimberley could be in her mother's home for up to four hours at a time, saying Declan was at playgroup or was being looked after by someone she knew.

A post-mortem examination carried out ahead of the fatal accident inquiry states that the case of Declan's death is "unascertained."

The inquiry continues.