The inquests into the deaths of two south London sisters who committed suicide within two months of each other have done nothing to help heal their mother who says she is "devastated, damaged and destroyed."

Isabel Borau, known as Izzy, 17, took her own life last November and in January her 21-year-old sister Anna hanged herself. Izzy's body was discovered in her Sutton flat by her mother Kate and sister Jenny. Anna was found by police in her flat in Crawley. Both girls had consumed alcohol on the night they committed suicide.

At the inquests into the sisters' suicides, which both took place on May 22 at Croydon Coroner's Court, coroner Dr Roy Palmer recorded an open verdict. The hearings were attended by Sutton and Sussex police officers, whom Mrs Borau praised for their sensitivity.

Kate Borau, who has a son and two other daughters, said: "I was dreading the inquest in the time running up to it but the actual hearing wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The staff and the police were very gentle. They said that both girls had the same level of alcohol in their blood when they died but the coroner said this was just a coincidence."

Although she is trying to continue with her life and is returning to work next month, Mrs Borau does not think she will ever get over the suicides of two of her daughters.

She said: "I've just got this mask on to make it seem like I'm fine.

People say to me you're so brave and I think, if only you knew. I'll never come to terms with this but I'll carry on wearing this mask and hope that this never happens to me again. Once was too much. I'm a mother who is devastated, damaged and destroyed but I know I will see my girls again."