Baby boy died in his parents’ bed

The hearing was told that the couple had both been drinking before settling down with baby Peter at their temporary home in Royds Street, Accrington.

But when mum Margaret Maughan woke the following morning she felt the child cold and lifeless beside her.

The hearing was told that Peter was the fifth child of Margaret and Gerard Maughan and Mrs Maughan said that all of her children had slept with her at some stage in their lives.

On Thursday, November 10, Mr and Mrs Maughan had gone out drinking with other members of their extended family.

Mrs Maughan said she had about seven halves of lager. She didn't know how much her husband had but he was the worse for drink, she said.

Their two youngest children had been left at a relative's home and they were collected after the couple left the pub at about midnight, she said.

PC Maxine Bolton told the inquest that when she arrived at the house Mrs Maughan was screaming "Please help my baby".

The officer said both Mrs Maughan and her husband smelled strongly of drink.

PC Bolton gave the child mouth to mouth resuscitation until paramedics arrived but he was dead on arrival at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Forensic pathologist Dr Charles Wilson said there were a number of recognised risk factors in what is known as sudden infant death syndrome and these included parents who smoke, as both Mr and Mrs Maughan do, and sleeping in close proximity to parents.

"This is increased if they are not sleeping in a conventional bed," said Dr Wilson. "Airway obstruction is a possible mechanism for death in these cases although it is not always possible to establish.

"I note from the photographs there was a gap between the two mattresses and this may have allowed the child to become wedged, particularly if one or more of the parents were intoxicated," he added.

The medical cause of death was unascertained and coroner Michael Singleton recorded an open verdict.