Doctor’s wife killed
herself with shotgun
by David Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON doctor’s wife killed herself with a shotgun in her bedroom while her children watched television downstairs.
Her teenage son heard the shot and found his mother lying near the doubled-barrelled 12-bore shotgun, an inquest heard at Warrington.
She was still breathing and he called down to his sister to call their father and an ambulance. But after moving the gun away and making it safe he checked again and found his mother had stopped breathing, the inquest was told.
A suicide verdict was recorded on Evelyn Francis, 48, of Albert Road, Grappenhall, wife of Dr Ernest Francis, a GP at the Helsby Street medical centre in Warrington.
The inquest heard Dr Francis was a shooting enthusiast and kept a number of shotguns in safety cabinets in a wardrobe in the bedroom. Cartridges were also kept in the room.
Dr Francis, 45, told the hearing he had been treating his wife for depression “against my better judgement” simply because she would accept no other help.
The inquest heard the couple originated from Northern Ireland, where Mrs Francis had trained as a nurse.
Until about four years ago they had a happy family life and she enjoyed good health. Then her attitude changed – coinciding with when she took up art.
She was a talented artist but was unsatisfied with her own work. She became obsessive, particularly about her art. She would work for hours on a painting which her husband and friends thought was very good – but then destroy it because she was not satisfied with it.
Her sister, Rebecca Nixon, told the inquest she became depressed, obviously wasn’t eating properly and became obsessional, particularly about her art and also believed she was physically ill.
The inquest heard Mrs Francis believed she was suffering from spina bifida, even though her husband tried to reassure her that she was perfectly healthy.
She would not go to see her GP but her husband did persuade her to see a consultant physician who confirmed there was nothing physically wrong with her and diagnosed depression.
Dr Francis said his wife would improve when she took anti-depressants but would stop taking the tablets when she felt better, leading to a relapse. She would hide the tablets rather than admit she was no longer taking them.
Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said expert witnesses were satisfied the shotgun, which had an automatic safety catch, could not have discharged accidentally. The single gunshot wound in the chest and abdomen was consistent with Mrs Francis firing the gun herself.
“I am satisfied the wound was self-inflicted and that she intended taking her own life,” he said.
He recorded a verdict that she took her own life while the balance of her mind was disturbed.
New police powers
prove effective
by John Hendon
TOUGH new powers being used by police to combat hooliganism and anti-social behaviour at Culcheth, near Warrington, are working, according to Cheshire Police.
In the first month since Culcheth was declared a “Dispersal Zone”, 26 anti-social incidents have been reported to police.
More than 50 youths have been spoken to and asked to disperse and the majority have responded to police requested.
However, one youth has been arrested for breaching the order and five others have been summonsed to appear before magistrates for the same offence. All are under the age of 16.
Inspector Stuart Woodcock said: “The reduction in the number of incidents reported to police shows that the Dispersal Order is working, but we mustn’t be complacent.
“We will continue to monitor its effectiveness and target those youths who are causing problems for everyone else. Law abiding youths who are going about their business will not be affected by the Order.”
Cheshire Police has put a list of frequently asked questions and answers onto the Force web site and young people and their parents or guardians can log on to: www.cheshire.police.uk where they can find out more about the Dispersal Order.
Some concerns have been expressed about the Dispersal Order, notably by former Member of the Youth Parliament Alex Doorey, of Croft, who suggested that it was making young people in the village feel victimised.
Innocent youngsters were being needlessly accosted by police which could enflame the situation. The vast majority were being made to suffer for the actions of a few, she said.
But the police emphasise that law-abiding young people who behave responsibly and sensibly have nothing to fear from the order.
Prior to the Order coming into force, 300 anti-social behaviour incident were reported in just seven months.
Thief takes cash
with stolen card
by staff reporter
POLICE at Warrington are searching for an opportunist thief who stole a handbag from a car and then used a credit card from it to obtain cash.
The car was parked on the car park at Oughtrington Lane Community Centre, Oughtrington, Lymm.
A handbag was stolen from the vehicle and, a short time later, a card from the bag was used to obtain money from a cashpoint machine at the Co-op Village Store in Cherry Lane, Lymm.
Police have CCTV pictures of the man and are appealing to members of the public who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously either at the community centre or at the shop to get in touch.
The officer to constact is PC John Wilson on 01244 350222.
Pupils celebrate
GCSE successes
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON secondary school pupils achieved striking success in their GCSE exams.
Some 94.1 per cent of pupils in mainstream schools passed GCSE’s, including English and maths and 58 per cent achieved five or more passes at higher grades C and above.
The level of passes was above the national average – “a reflection of the hard work by both schools and pupils”, said the borough council’s executive member for education, Councillor Maureen Banner.
She added: “There is a lot of detailed analysis of this year’s GCSE results to be done. This will help school’s evaluate their performance and set challenging targets for future years”.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 6, 8 and 15. Two winners shared this week’s ?1,420 jackpot. The ?25 consolation prize was won by P. Hitchen. Next week’s jackpot will be ?200.
Stable plan
PLANS for a block of three stables and menage at The Acorns, Warrington Road, Higher Walton near Warrington have been approved by the borough council.
Road closure
QUEENS Avenue and Connaught Avenue, Warrington, are to be closed to traffic for about two weeks from Monday, September 6 while a new water main is laid. Access will be maintained for residents and diversions will be signposted.
Radio mast
CHESHIRE Police are seeking planning consent for additional radio antennae on an existing telecommunications mast at High Warren Reservoir, London Road, Appleton, Warrington.
[ 01.09.2004, 10:17: Message edited by: DS ]
