COMPENSATION FIGHT RUMBLES ON AFTER PENSIONER TRAGEDY
OFFERS of £10,000 compensation following the death of a pensioner have been branded ‘sickening’ by her daughter
Mary Riley was left disfigured following a fall on tools left by workmen at her home in Iris Steedman House, Newcastle, in 2014.
The 69-year-old landed on a power saw and a shovel, and required 50 stitches from her to eyes to the top of her head after the incident.
Mary died 10 months after the fall in February 2015 at 70 following the spread of her lung cancer to her brain.
Now - almost two years on from her mother’s death - distraught daughter Charlotte is continuing to fight for justice in her memory after branding an insurance payout offer ‘sickening’.
The incident left Mary, who was partially sighted, needing 11 stitches in her knee and meant she was unable to continue chemotherapy for a brain tumour.
The battling pensioner was treated for her injuries at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, but Charlotte insists her mother never recovered from the trauma of the fall.
Mum-of-one Charlotte, 47, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: “She suffered badly with her injuries and her kneecap never healed. She had a serious infection which she nearly died from.
“My mam was in agony ever since that fall, I don’t know how she coped with that pain. She was in and out of hospital every couple of weeks. There was no quality of life - after that fall she could not do anything.”
Following the fall, Mary said she owed her life to her daughter.
The work at the sheltered accommodation was authorised by landlords and social housing provider Your Homes Newcastle, and carried out by contractors Keepmoat.
Both insisted health and safety practices and procedurers were reviewed in the aftermath of the fall.
But Charlotte fears her mother’s fall is being brushed under the carpet, and has criticised a £10,000 compensation offer from Keepmoat.
She said: “I’m sickened by the offer. It even says she fell outside the home, but she fell inside.
“We’ve never had an apology or answers. It’s like it never happened and my mam didn’t exist.”
After rejecting the offer in September, Charlotte is now preparing to fight a legal battle over the personal injury claim.
She added: “My mam fought hard all the way through, and she didn’t want them to get away with it.
“I would like someone to be held accountable and for acknowledgment at least.”
A spokesperson for Keepmoat Regeneration, said: “We offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Mary Riley.
“As this is a legal matter, we are unfortunately unable to provide any further comment at this time.” David Langhorne, assets and development director at Your Homes Newcastle, said: “We were sorry to hear the news about Mary Riley’s death in 2015 and extended our sympathies to her family.
“We understand that a personal injury claim has now been brought and as this falls within a legal framework we are legally unable to comment any further.” .