A Carlisle man has been found guilty of manslaughter after his elderly mother lay dying on their bathroom floor for a fortnight. Stewart Irwin, 56, was convicted by a jury at Carlisle Crown Court of failing to provide assistance to his 74-year-old mother, Veronica Irwin, following a fall in their flat.
The court heard distressing evidence that paramedics, responding to a 999 call made by Irwin on 28 July 2023, discovered Veronica unconscious, partially clothed, and severely malnourished. She was lying in a recovery-type position and was later found to be suffering from hypothermia, neglected pressure ulcers, and maggot infestations. Prosecutor Phil Barnes KC highlighted that the bathroom was the only one in the small flat, implying Irwin would have had to step over his mother regularly. Barnes stated, "If only she had been moved, or had had medical attention sooner, she undoubtedly would have survived."
During the two weeks Veronica lay incapacitated, jurors were told that Stewart Irwin made nine separate visits to a nearby shop to purchase bottles of strong white cider. His last visit to the One Stop store on Fusehill Street was on 27 July, the day before he eventually contacted emergency services. Furthermore, he withdrew cash from his mother's bank account on two separate occasions during this period, specifically on 19 and 24 July.
When Irwin finally dialled 999, he reportedly told the operator that his mother's skin had "started to turn blue," she had been "refusing help," was "scaring the hell out of me," and was "one of them stubborn old women." Paramedics initially believed Veronica was deceased upon arrival but, discovering she was still alive, rushed her to hospital where she tragically passed away shortly after.
Irwin chose not to give evidence during the trial. However, the court heard that he had previously told a clinical psychologist he had "tried to help" his mother, claiming she had "repeatedly refused" assistance. The psychologist found no evidence to suggest Irwin lacked decision-making capacity. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for manslaughter.