British mother who deliberately poisoned her son is guilty of murder

Claire Scanlon "deliberately poisoned" her son on New Year's Eve by giving him her medication before she beat him to death has been convicted of murder.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

In a tragic and heartbreaking case, a 38-year-old woman named Claire Scanlon has been found guilty of murdering her five-year-old son, Dylan, at their home in Oldham. The verdict was reached after a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

The events unfolded on New Year’s Eve in 2021 when Claire Scanlon left her house and sought help from her uncle, stating that Dylan was not breathing or moving. Family members rushed to the scene and discovered Dylan lifeless in a double bed, bearing multiple bruises on his face and body.

Investigations revealed that a neighbour had heard both Claire and Dylan’s voices in the early hours of that morning, marking the last time Dylan was heard alive. Disturbingly, leading up to his death, Scanlon had sent abusive messages and voicemails to her ex-partner, Dylan’s father, denying him access to his son.

During the trial, it emerged that Scanlon had given different explanations for Dylan’s bruises to family members and paramedics, in an attempt to cover up her abuse. It was discovered that she had beaten him and even administered her own anti-depressant medication, Mirtazapine, to him.

Toxicological analysis revealed that Dylan had a fatal amount of Mirtazapine in his system, indicating that Scanlon had intentionally poisoned him. Furthermore, the young boy had numerous bruises on his head and body.

Following the conclusion of the trial, Claire Scanlon was found guilty of murder. Nicola Carter, Senior Crown Prosecutor for North West CPS, expressed sympathy to Dylan’s loved ones, including his grandfather, father, and brother, who provided evidence during the trial. Carter emphasised that Scanlon had betrayed her duty as a parent to love and protect her child, and instead took a tragic and irreversible step that cost Dylan his life.

Dylan’s father paid tribute to his son in the days after his untimely death, describing him as his “best friend” and a joyful, cheeky, and beloved little boy who will be deeply missed by all his family and friends.