Mum who murdered son, 5, by poisoning him with anti-depressants jailed for life

A mum who murdered her five-year-old son by poisoning him with anti-depressants has been jailed for life - with a minimum term of 18 years. Emergency services were called to Limeside, Oldham, on New Year's Eve, 2021 following reports Dylan Scanlon was unconscious.

Neighbours and family members attempted to resuscitate him, but he was sadly pronounced dead. He was found with 64 bruises to his head, face and body. However, a toxicology report concluded he had nine times the fatal adult dose of an anti-depressant in his system.

The child's mother Claire Scanlon, 38, claimed he had fallen down stepladders and that he had been 'running around with the dog' just 20 minutes before reporting him unresponsive. She was arrested and later hospitalised under the Mental Health Act, during which she admitted to staff members at Edenfield Hospital: "I killed my son."

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A police investigation revealed a large number of 'angry' voicemails to her ex-partner Gary Keenan, in which she said he left her for another woman while she struggled to live 'emotionally, practically and financially' as a single mum.

Prosecutors said Scanlon was 'very angry and depressed' following the breakdown of the relationship. In one voicemail, she said: "I promise you, you won't see him again. You'll see. Bye. Go and enjoy your life."

Following a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Scanlon was found guilty of murder. Members of Dylan's devastated family were in the public gallery on Friday (June 14), but Scanlon refused to attend.

During the trial, giving evidence, Scanlon, of Elm Road, said that the day of his death, she found Dylan 'a bit off', and claimed she