Paul McBride, 39, Killed Six-Month-Old Son And Then Hanged Himself, Inquest Hears

Father Killed Six-Month-Old Son Following Break-Up

A father suffocated his six-month-old son in the bath and then hanged himself, an inquest has heard.

Paul McBride, 39, killed baby Ollie shortly after the break-up of a "turbulent relationship" with the child's mother, Michaela Swain.

The youngster's dry body was found lying on the bed in the upstairs bedroom of Mr McBride's home in Preston, Lancashire.

Found nearby were two hand-written notes from the taxi driver addressed to his brother - one was written on the back of a court order obtained by Ms Swain.

Preston Coroner's Court heard Ms Swain had recently secured a non-molestation order against her former partner, designed to prevent him threatening or harassing her.

She alerted police four minutes after he was due to return Ollie to her at 4pm on 14 September last year.

Family members of Mr McBride were the first to make the grim discovery at the address in Marl Hill Crescent, Ribbleton, before police and emergency services arrived.

Mr McBride was hanging from a stairwell in soaking wet clothes.

Upstairs the bath was half-full of tepid water, with dried flowers floating on top.

Police initially thought the toddler may have been drowned but that was later ruled out.

Pathologist Brian Rogers told the hearing: "I think Paul got into the bath with baby Ollie and suffocated him at some stage while they were in the bath ... but he did not drown the baby."

There were no obvious signs of injury to the youngster's body, he added.

Preston deputy coroner Simon Jones recorded verdicts that Mr McBride took his own life and that he unlawfully killed his son.

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