Gran, 77, died when gable wall fell on her while she hung out washing
A grandmother was fatally crushed while she hung out washing when a crumbling gable end wall labelled a 'timebomb' fell on top of her, an inquest heard.
Clarice Berry, 77, was doing laundry on a hot summer's day at her home in Shevington, near Wigan, in July 2021 when tragedy struck.
Her husband Arthur came home from visiting one of their daughters to discover neighbours and passers-by frantically trying to find her under 10ft of rubble.
The retired kitchen assistant was eventually pulled free by firefighters and rushed to hospital, but tragically died later that day.
Now a coroner has slammed the failure to repair the bulging brickwork, which the inquest heard Mr Berry had repeatedly raised with their landlord, Shlomo Klein.
Branding her needless death 'senseless', Bronia Hartley said: 'Tragedy is an overused word but that is what Arthur came home to that afternoon.'
She said she would be writing a prevention of future deaths report in relation to the landlord and property management firm responsible for the end-terrace property.
Despite the couple's concerns, no structural assessment or remedial works were undertaken to the wall, Bolton Coroner's Court heard.
Clarice Berry, 77, died when the gable end wall of her rented house in Shevington, Greater Manchester fell on top of her while she was hanging out washing in July 2021
Grandmother Clarice Berry's husband Arthur had repeatedly raised concerns about bulging brickwork with their landlord before the gable end wall collapsed on top of her (pictured)
The defect progressively worsened, resulting in the collapse which caused Mrs Berry's death.
Giving evidence at a previous hearing, police coroner's officer Benjamin Dobbs said: 'On July 18, 2021, Mrs Berry was stood in her carport hanging out washing.
'Suddenly, the gable end of the house above the carport gave way and crumbled into where Mrs Berry was stood. She was covered under the debris.
'Her husband had been out and came back to find neighbours trying to get her out of the rubble.
'The emergency services were called and the fire service got Mrs Berry into an ambulance.
'She is thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest and numerous broken bones.'
The court heard that following her death, investigations were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive.
These showed that there was an underlying structural problem and it was only a matter of time before the wall collapsed.
'The senseless tragedy of Clarice's death is that any competent surveyor would have identified it as just that, a timebomb,' assistant coroner Ms Hartley said.
'I find that any reasonably competent property management company and/or responsible landlord, employing common sense, would, at the very least, have ensured that the wall was monitored for any signs of progression and, by no later than 2018, would have ensured that a structural survey was performed.
'The structural collapse of the gable end wall was caused by long-standing wall tie failure.
'Had steps been taken to investigate the known and worsening structural defect, on the balance of probabilities, remedial action would have been taken and the collapse which caused the deceased's death would have been prevented.'
Giving a narrative conclusion, she said Mrs Berry died as a result of chest injuries sustained when the gable end wall fell on top of her after a failure to carry out remedial work.
The coroner said she would be addressing a prevention of future deaths report to S&G Properties Ltd, of which landlord Mr Klein is co-director, and property management firm KMPM.
Speaking after the inquest, the couple's daughter Amanda said: 'While nothing can bring our mum back or change what happened, we feel the conclusion is appropriate and reflects the evidence heard.
'This has been a devastating loss for our family, and we would not wish such trauma on anyone else.'
Welcoming the coroner's plan to write a report, Ms Berry-Smith added: 'We hope it supports learning and helps reduce the risk of similar tragedies in the future.
'At this time, our focus is on remembering Clarice - a dearly loved wife and mum - and supporting one another as a family.'
The Health and Safety Executive closed its investigation without taking any action against any of the parties involved.
Mr Klein was approached for comment.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
