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| Prosecutors to re-examine vicarage death of newborn baby | |
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| The death of a newborn baby at a vicarage that resulted in a murder investigation will be re-examined by prosecutors after an inquest heard the boy could have survived. | The death of a newborn baby at a vicarage that resulted in a murder investigation will be re-examined by prosecutors after an inquest heard the boy could have survived. |
| A vicar and his daughter did not resuscitate the newborn baby and left it in the house alone for up to two hours after it was born following a concealed pregnancy, an inquest heard. | A vicar and his daughter did not resuscitate the newborn baby and left it in the house alone for up to two hours after it was born following a concealed pregnancy, an inquest heard. |
| Baby Jonathan Percival was born alive at the Holy Trinity vicarage in Freckleton, Lancashire, and took a breath but was not given any medical attention and died shortly afterwards. | Baby Jonathan Percival was born alive at the Holy Trinity vicarage in Freckleton, Lancashire, and took a breath but was not given any medical attention and died shortly afterwards. |
| His mother, Ruth, allegedly told midwives soon after giving birth in November 2014 that she did not want the baby and asked them to dispose of him. | His mother, Ruth, allegedly told midwives soon after giving birth in November 2014 that she did not want the baby and asked them to dispose of him. |
| The Rev James Percival went on to tell the police the child appeared “sallow and lifeless” and he thought it was “obviously deceased” but Blackpool coroner’s court was told the baby could have survived up to 15 minutes after delivery. | The Rev James Percival went on to tell the police the child appeared “sallow and lifeless” and he thought it was “obviously deceased” but Blackpool coroner’s court was told the baby could have survived up to 15 minutes after delivery. |
| The inquest heard Jonathan was born between 3.30pm and 4pm on 25 November 2014 but was not seen by a medical professional until about 5.35pm when the reverend let paramedics into the family home at Sunnyside Close. | The inquest heard Jonathan was born between 3.30pm and 4pm on 25 November 2014 but was not seen by a medical professional until about 5.35pm when the reverend let paramedics into the family home at Sunnyside Close. |
| Ruth Percival, who was 28 at the time, and her father were arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder shortly after the baby’s death. In April this year, the pair were told they would face no charges – but the case could now be re-opened and may go before a criminal court. | Ruth Percival, who was 28 at the time, and her father were arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder shortly after the baby’s death. In April this year, the pair were told they would face no charges – but the case could now be re-opened and may go before a criminal court. |
| Coroner Alan Wilson dramatically adjourned the inquest at Blackpool town hall after three medical professionals giving evidence agreed that the baby had been born alive and suggested he could have survived had he been given the correct medical attention. | Coroner Alan Wilson dramatically adjourned the inquest at Blackpool town hall after three medical professionals giving evidence agreed that the baby had been born alive and suggested he could have survived had he been given the correct medical attention. |
| Wilson said he would have to pass the case on to the director of public prosecutions as evidence given during the inquest “strengthened previously existing suspicions” a criminal offence may have taken place. | Wilson said he would have to pass the case on to the director of public prosecutions as evidence given during the inquest “strengthened previously existing suspicions” a criminal offence may have taken place. |
| The evidence suggested that the baby had an 80% chance of survival had he been given correct medical attention within 20 minutes of being born. The coroner singled out the evidence of Dr Ruth Gottstein, a consultant neonatologist, who told the court. “If resuscitation had been initiated, I think the baby would survived. Mouth-to-mouth would have done a good job.” | The evidence suggested that the baby had an 80% chance of survival had he been given correct medical attention within 20 minutes of being born. The coroner singled out the evidence of Dr Ruth Gottstein, a consultant neonatologist, who told the court. “If resuscitation had been initiated, I think the baby would survived. Mouth-to-mouth would have done a good job.” |
| He said: “This is a rare occurrence and not one that I take lightly but given the evidence I have heard it strengthens the previously existing suspicions that a criminal offence may have taken place to cause or allow the death of a child. | He said: “This is a rare occurrence and not one that I take lightly but given the evidence I have heard it strengthens the previously existing suspicions that a criminal offence may have taken place to cause or allow the death of a child. |
| “In court Dr Gottstein clearly stated that if a resuscitation attempt had been made she could see no reason why this child would not have survived.” | “In court Dr Gottstein clearly stated that if a resuscitation attempt had been made she could see no reason why this child would not have survived.” |
| The inquest was told that at the time of the birth, which was a full-term pregnancy, Ruth Percival, now 30, was living at the vicarage with her mother Susan, 66, and her father, who had been vicar at the church for 11 years. She was said to have hidden the pregnancy from her parents. | The inquest was told that at the time of the birth, which was a full-term pregnancy, Ruth Percival, now 30, was living at the vicarage with her mother Susan, 66, and her father, who had been vicar at the church for 11 years. She was said to have hidden the pregnancy from her parents. |
| The court heard that Ruth Percival, an office cleaner, had contacted her GP to try and terminate her pregnancy, but then “buried her head in the sand” after being told by staff at the Marie Stopes centre in Manchester that she was “too far gone”. | The court heard that Ruth Percival, an office cleaner, had contacted her GP to try and terminate her pregnancy, but then “buried her head in the sand” after being told by staff at the Marie Stopes centre in Manchester that she was “too far gone”. |
| On 25 November, 2014, she was sent home from work suffering from stomach pains. She was in the house with the reverend when he heard her in pain in the downstairs bathroom of the vicarage. | On 25 November, 2014, she was sent home from work suffering from stomach pains. She was in the house with the reverend when he heard her in pain in the downstairs bathroom of the vicarage. |
| He opened the bathroom to find the his daughter on the floor covered in blood holding a baby wrapped in a towel. The court heard he took the baby from her who was described as being “sallow and lifeless” and put him on the floor before moving him to the sofa. | He opened the bathroom to find the his daughter on the floor covered in blood holding a baby wrapped in a towel. The court heard he took the baby from her who was described as being “sallow and lifeless” and put him on the floor before moving him to the sofa. |
| The pair then did not contact the emergency services, with the vicar instead cleaning the bathroom while his daughter went upstairs to change her clothes. They then left the baby in the house alone and went to a previously arranged GP appointment. | The pair then did not contact the emergency services, with the vicar instead cleaning the bathroom while his daughter went upstairs to change her clothes. They then left the baby in the house alone and went to a previously arranged GP appointment. |
| It was only once they arrived at the GP surgery that emergency crews were alerted. Ruth Percival told her GP about the birth and that the child had been left alone in the vicarage. | It was only once they arrived at the GP surgery that emergency crews were alerted. Ruth Percival told her GP about the birth and that the child had been left alone in the vicarage. |
| Wilson said: “They left the child wrapped in a towel on the sofa. When the GP took an account from Ruth and then went out to the car to get her father and an ambulance would be called for Ruth and paramedics would be sent to the house and he was told to go home.” | Wilson said: “They left the child wrapped in a towel on the sofa. When the GP took an account from Ruth and then went out to the car to get her father and an ambulance would be called for Ruth and paramedics would be sent to the house and he was told to go home.” |
| But the inquest heard that the reverend did not go home immediately and instead went to pick up his wife from Dobbies Garden centre before dropping her off at the GP surgery. He finally went home and let paramedics in at just after 5.30pm – almost two hours after the baby had been born. | But the inquest heard that the reverend did not go home immediately and instead went to pick up his wife from Dobbies Garden centre before dropping her off at the GP surgery. He finally went home and let paramedics in at just after 5.30pm – almost two hours after the baby had been born. |
| Wilson said the vicar then allegedly told paramedics that he saw his daughter “put the baby in a bin”. But both he and his daughter subsequently denied putting the child in a bin. However, they admitted that the baby had been taken out of the house after being shown photographs of Jonathan with a leaf stuck to his left thigh. | Wilson said the vicar then allegedly told paramedics that he saw his daughter “put the baby in a bin”. But both he and his daughter subsequently denied putting the child in a bin. However, they admitted that the baby had been taken out of the house after being shown photographs of Jonathan with a leaf stuck to his left thigh. |
| The baby was taken to Blackpool Victoria hospital where he was pronounced dead. Midwives found that the baby had the cord wrapped around his neck. | The baby was taken to Blackpool Victoria hospital where he was pronounced dead. Midwives found that the baby had the cord wrapped around his neck. |
| Whilst at the hospital the coroner said Ruth Percival allegedly told midwives: “My dad said the baby died because the cord was wrapped around the neck. I wanted nothing to do with the baby. I want the nurse to dispose of it.” | Whilst at the hospital the coroner said Ruth Percival allegedly told midwives: “My dad said the baby died because the cord was wrapped around the neck. I wanted nothing to do with the baby. I want the nurse to dispose of it.” |
| During the two-hour inquest the vicar and his daughter sat at opposite ends of the courtroom as three medical professionals including two pathologists gave evidence. | During the two-hour inquest the vicar and his daughter sat at opposite ends of the courtroom as three medical professionals including two pathologists gave evidence. |
| The father of the child, Brian Hanlon, had been invited to attend the proceedings as an interested party but had not responded to correspondence from the coroner. | The father of the child, Brian Hanlon, had been invited to attend the proceedings as an interested party but had not responded to correspondence from the coroner. |
| The inquest heard that owing to the baby being born in a concealed environment and with the mother being in denial it was particularly vulnerable. | The inquest heard that owing to the baby being born in a concealed environment and with the mother being in denial it was particularly vulnerable. |
| Pathologists could not ascertain the cause of death, but the inquest heard there was a possibility asphyxiation could have been a contributory factor. It was also heard that because the baby did not receive any medical attention after being born its chances of survival were significantly reduced. | Pathologists could not ascertain the cause of death, but the inquest heard there was a possibility asphyxiation could have been a contributory factor. It was also heard that because the baby did not receive any medical attention after being born its chances of survival were significantly reduced. |