Son jailed over death of elderly mother he left on floor for two weeks after fall

A son has been jailed after leaving his elderly mother on the floor for two weeks after a fall.

Stewart Irwin was given six and a half years in jail for manslaughter after failing to get help for his mother Veronica. He said he only decided to call an ambulance after her skin had turned blue.

The 56-year-old was found guilty of the offence following a trial at Carlisle Crown Court and sentenced on Friday.

The trial heard Irwin’s mother died on July 28 2023. The two lived together in Rydal Street, Carlisle.

That day, he had called the North West Ambulance Service to say that his mother had fallen in the wet room and refused to get up.

But he went on to explain his mother had been on the floor for two weeks and had been refusing food and help, describing her as “one of those stubborn old women”.

However, he had decided to finally call for an ambulance as her skin had turned blue.

He also went on to say during the call “I could have killed her myself” before adding “Ah, I don’t want to say that.”

Four paramedics attended the address and, on arrival, initially thought his mother was already dead due to the state of neglect she was in, including severe pressure sores and the presence of an insect infestation.

When Irwin was asked by paramedics why he had waited so long to call he told them she would not let him call for help.

When police arrived, Irwin told them his mother always told him not to call anyone, telling officers: “I said you want an ambulance and she said no, no, no.”

His mother was taken to hospital but died that evening.

Following a post-mortem examination, the cause of death was found to be hypothermia and neglected pressure ulcers.

Irwin was interviewed by police twice following his mother’s death. Both times he refused to answer questions, giving “no comment” responses.

Outside court, Detective Constable Emma Armstrong from Cumbria Police, said: “Veronica Irwin died in truly horrendous conditions because her son – who presented himself as her carer – refused to get help for her.

“Irwin had countless chances to ask for help as his mother lay on the floor but waited until it was too late to act.

“The fact that experienced paramedics initially suspected Veronica had already passed away when they arrived demonstrates the terrible condition she was allowed to descend into before Irwin finally acted.”