Son guilty of leaving mum to die in bathroom

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Son guilty of leaving mum to die in bathroomImage source, SuppliedImage caption, Stewart Irwin was found guilty of the manslaughter of his 74-year-old mother VeronicaPublished2 hours agoA man who failed to help his 74-year-old mother as she lay for two weeks slowly dying on their bathroom floor has been convicted of her manslaughter. Carlisle Crown Court was told paramedics, who attended the flat in the city where Stewart Irwin and his mother Veronica lived, found the pensioner unconscious, semi-naked and malnourished while lying in a recovery-type position. Irwin, 56, finally dialled 999 on 28 July 2023 reporting that his mother's skin had "started to turn blue", had been "refusing help", was "scaring the hell out of me" and was "one of them stubborn old women".

Jurors unanimously found Irwin guilty of manslaughter. He was bailed ahead of sentencing on 11 September. Warning: This story contains descriptions of injuries some readers may find distressing.

The Details

During the trial, the jury heard Veronica Irwin had suffered a fall in the bathroom which prosecutor Phil Barnes KC said was the only one in the small flat she shared with her son. "He must have been stepping over her every few hours simply to use the toilet or brush his teeth," Barnes said. "If only she had been moved, or had had medical attention sooner, she undoubtedly would have survived.

"Cash withdrawalsJurors heard that, during the fortnight in which his mother lay prone on the floor, Irwin made nine separate visits to a nearby shop to buy bottles of strong white cider. The last time he visited the One Stop store on Fusehill Street was mid-afternoon on 27 July, the day before he dialled 999. He also withdrew cash from his mother's bank account on 19 and 24 July.

Paramedics who responded to the 999 call initially thought the 74-year-old was dead, the court heard. On discovering she was still alive they rushed her to hospital where she later died having suffered hypothermia. The court was told she had neglected pressure ulcers and parts of her body were infested with maggots.

What Experts Say

Jurors heard that Irwin, who opted not to give evidence during the trial, had told a clinical psychologist he had "tried to help" his mother who, he claimed, had "repeatedly refused" assistance. The psychologist found no evidence to conclude Irwin lacked decision-making capacity. Follow Cumbria on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external.

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The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.