22/06/2006
An inquest jury at Preston Coroner's Court found that Lilian Taylor, of Poulton-le-Fylde, who died in a police cell on 17 March 2002, did not receive adequate care while in custody.
The jury verdict was that Mrs Taylor had:
"died of a cocaine overdose at Fleetwood police station in a female cell. Her death was brought on by the swallowing of cocaine. Appropriate precautions and action were not undertaken. Had the appropriate precautions and action been taken death may have been prevented."
The jury heard evidence that although Mrs Taylor had informed the police that she had swallowed a package of either cocaine or amphetamine, they failed to refer her as a medical emergency to hospital where her chances of survival would have increased.
Instead, a police doctor examined Mrs Taylor in a manner described as 'inadequate' by leading medical experts. The doctor left the police with no clear instructions on how to observe her condition. Mrs Taylor was found dead some four hours later.
The family were represented by Nick Stanage , instructed by Harriet Wistrich of Birnberg Peirce solicitors.
.....................................................................................................................................
> Dealing with reality She was a well loved grandmother and a respected community figure. She was also a drug dealer and addict. Julie Bindel's article in the Guardian (21/06/06) looks at the strange life and death of Lillian Taylor. http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/story/0,,1801821,00.html
> Inquest into death of a woman in Lancashire police station to open (12/5/06) INQUEST Press release giving background on this case http://inquest.gn.apc.org/pdf/2006/Lillian_Taylor_inquest_opening.pdf
> for more information on INQUEST go to www.inquest.org.uk