Tot’s murder probe continues

MURDER probe . . . Claire Flanagan and Violet Mullen

Mum known to social services

THIS is the Waterhead mum who continues to be questioned on suspicion of murdering her baby daughter.

Claire Flanagan (22), of Huddersfield Road, and her boyfriend Gary Alcock (28), were arrested after the death of 15-month-old Violet Mullen.

The tot was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital after having a suspected heart attack shortly after 7.30pm on Tuesday.

Doctors are understood to have found suspicious injuries, including bruising to her head and body, and immediately alerted police.

A post-mortem has now been carried out but the results have not yet been released.

Police say they are waiting for pathology reports. A cause of death has not yet been established.

The Chronicle can reveal that Miss Flanagan was already known to social services.

Oldham Council will now hold a separate serious case review into little Violet’s death and the circumstances.

Miss Flanagan has two other children who attend a near-by primary school. Mr Alcock is not Violet’s father.

The police have until 11pm to either charge or release the couple or request more time to question them.

Violet was admitted to hospital after her mum called an ambulance to their home.

Shocked and saddened neighbours described seeing Miss Flanagan sobbing as a paramedic rushed from the house carrying the little girl in her arms.

One neighbour said: “The ambulance was always here, every month or two.

“I once asked the mum if her daughter was alright and she said she was.”

Others said the quiet family had lived at the house for about two years and Violet was often seen laughing and playing in the back yard.