A man has been accused of abandoning his mother in her bathroom for two weeks, leading to her death, a court jury was informed.
Veronica Irwin, aged 72, passed away in what was described as a “painful and inhumane” manner after allegedly being left in a precarious condition at her residence in Carlisle, Cumbria. The court heard that Stewart Irwin, 56, finally alerted emergency services, claiming that his mother, who he was responsible for, was refusing to get up after a fall.
Irwin, who denies manslaughter, reportedly referred to his mother as “stubborn” when contacting the emergency services. Paramedics found the woman unclothed from the waist up at the property in July 2023, with concerns that she might have already passed away upon their arrival, noting the presence of maggots on her skin.
During the trial at Carlisle Crown Court, jurors learned from a post-mortem examination that hypothermia and sepsis, resulting from pressure ulcers due to prolonged time spent on the floor, were the causes of her death.
Prosecutors stated that Irwin must have been neglecting his mother while she lay on the bathroom floor, stepping over her. It was also revealed that he accessed her bank account for withdrawals and was frequently captured on CCTV purchasing alcohol at a nearby store.
Phillip Barnes KC, the prosecutor, highlighted that the defendant failed to seek medical assistance for his ailing mother and continued with his daily routine while she was in distress.
“He carried on with his life as usual while his mother was in a dire situation,” Mr. Barnes declared in court. “He made no effort to address the issue or seek help. A responsible caregiver would not have ignored the situation.”
The trial is ongoing.