AN ASTLEY mum fighting for justice after her disabled son died at a council home has been hit by another tragedy.

Just minutes after Brenda Rowley told The Journal of her plans to sue Salford Council over the death of her 30 years old son Malcolm, her husband Fred, aged 56, died of a massive heart attack.

For nine months Mrs Rowley, of Whimbrel Road, has campaigned for those she holds responsible for her son's death to be brought to justice.

"It all affected Fred and I put him through hell. I can't change that. He had a lot to cope with.

"Now I've lost two of the people I love in nine months," Brenda told The Journal.

Mr Rowley, an instrument technician, was waiting for a heart transplant at Wythenshaw Hospital.

"Fred went into heart failure when Malcolm died. We had to come back from Botswana when he was taken ill. He was due to go back to hospital in June but it was all too late" said Mrs Rowley who had just returned from a sun break in Rhodes.

"I hoped it would do Fred good...All I have left is the happy memories of last week."

Mrs Rowley has a son a daughter at home. Her eldest daughter, Lisa, returned to South Africa two weeks ago.

But Mrs Rowley has vowed to continue her fight over mentally and physically disabled Malcolm, who couldn't walk or talk and only had the capabilities of a four month old child.

He was found dead last July in the bath of a Salford Council special bungalow at Eccles where he had lived for eight years with two other residents under the 24-hour care of two staff.

An independent inquiry was commissioned by the council and this has been handed to the coroner.

But Mrs Rowley claims that report is a 'whitewash' and has written to the Greater Manchester Chief Constable asking why no one has been charged following her 30 year-old son's death.

"The staff were responsible for Malcolm's care and had a duty of care but looked after their own needs by going for a cup of tea and leaving Malcolm in the bath," said Mrs Rowley.

Mrs Rowley also claims that the independent inquiry made eight urgent recommendations following Malcolm's death but said there was no neglect "as such".

"But the people who were caring for him were back at work eight weeks after Malcolm died. Why has no-one been charged in connection with his death," said Mrs Rowley.

A Salford Council spokesman said: "Malcolm's death was very distressing for everyone who knew him. A full, independent inquiry was carried out at the time and it has been handed to the coroner and it is now for him to make a full report into the circumstances.

"We cannot make further comment until the inquest."

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