A SON who left his mum on the bathroom floor with an insect infestation for two weeks has been jailed after her death.
Veronica Irwin, 75, was in such a state of neglect that the emergency services thought she was already deceased.
Her son Stewart Irwin, 56, had called the ambulance on July 28, 2023, to say his mum had fallen over in the wet room and refused to get up.
Irwin then added that her fall was two weeks prior and she had been on the floor ever since.
He said she was “one of those stubborn old women” and had finally telephoned for help after his mum’s skin started turning blue.
Irwin went on to say during the call “I could have killed her myself” before adding “ah, I don’t want to say that”.
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Four paramedics attended the house on Rydal Street, Carlisle, where Irwin lived with his mother.
Carlisle Crown Court heard that the medics could smell a decomposing body from outside the front door.
In the bathroom they found the elderly woman semi-naked, unconscious, and malnourished.
There was also an insect infestation and her bed sores so severe they went through the full thickness of her skin.
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Veronica was dangerously cold and she was rushed to hospital but died later that evening.
A post-mortem later revealed her cause of death as hypothermia and neglected pressure ulcers.
When North West Ambulance Service asked why he had taken so long, he said Veronica would not let him call for help.
He told police: “I said you want an ambulance and she said no, no, no.”
Mr Justice Bright said Irwin “made a conscious decision” to leave her stranded and “must have realised that she was approaching death”.
Irwin said he was Veronica’s carer for at least 35 hours a week and had given up work to look after her, the court heard.
In the fortnight she was left on the floor, Irwin carried on with his everyday life, which included nine trips to buy cider and withdrawing money from her bank account.
Irwin was interviewed by police twice after his mother died, both times he refused to answer questions, giving “no comment” responses.
He was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial and was sentenced to six-and-a-half years today.
Defence barrister Andrew Ford KC said: “He has always said to anyone prepared to listen… that he tried to move her and couldn’t. She wasn’t for being moved. She wanted to stay where she was.
“He is a man who is distressed about all this,” Ford added.
Detective Constable Emma Armstrong said: “Veronica Irwin died in truly horrendous conditions because her son – who presented himself as her carer – refused to get help for her.
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“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.”