A Wigan father-of-two died in hospital after being trapped in a blaze at his family home, months after his property was 'invaded' by people who took advantage of him, an inquest has heard.
Mark Vernal, 42, died following the fire at his home on Dumbarton Green in Wigan on August 14, 2024. An inquest into his death began at Bolton Coroners Court on Monday (November 2).
Several members of Mark's family attended the court, including his brother Michael and sister Sonia Vernal. Representatives of Greater Manchester Police and Wigan Council were also present.
Family says Mark was victim of 'cuckooing'
Michael and Sonia Vernal told the court they believed Mark was a victim of 'cuckooing' in the lead up to his death. Cuckooing is when criminals take control of a vulnerable person's home to use it for crime.
"A lot of people take advantage of him that way," said Michael. "He was really vulnerable and a lot more when he was under the influence."
Geoff Heyes, a neighbour who had known Mark since childhood, also gave evidence. He described Mark as 'fantastic', saying "nowt' wrong with that lad, at all. He loved the world and he loved the people in it."
Neighbour describes home as 'bomb site'
Mr Heyes told the court how Mark's drinking became 'totally out of control in the Christmas before he died'. He added that this was 'the same time he got invaded by a lot of hangers on' who 'took advantage of him'.
He described how the front yard of Mark's home resembled a 'bomb site' around three to six months after 'people started coming and going' to the property. Mr Heyes singled out a male and female couple with a large dog who he frequently saw at the home.
The court heard how the cleanliness of the home deteriorated, including dog faeces left for days in the front garden. Arguments between the couple and loud music were also reported once the couple began attending Mark's home.
Mr Heyes recalled entering the home to find a ceiling missing, 'dog muck, cans strewn across the floor and ashtrays dotted around the place'. "If I had gone with a hammer, I couldn't have done a better job than what it was," he told the court.
He said he had repeatedly sent emails to Wigan Council regarding the state of the house and Mark's wellbeing. Hours before the fire, he sent another message to the council. "One of the last emails I sent was the Tuesday night before he died on Wednesday and I said, if anything untoward happens to Mark it will be very serious," he said.
Mark had issues with drinking, court told
Coroner Bronia Hartley also read evidence from Kim Foster, a close friend and neighbour of Mark. She told the court how people would enter the home through a broken front window covered by plywood. She said she called police and Wigan Council multiple times, which resulted in at least one visit by both services to the address.
Mark was described as a 'vulnerable' person diagnosed with 'alcohol dependency', asthma, depression, and anxiety. The court heard how Mark would have multiple seizures believed to be triggered by his epilepsy and stress.
Mark's drinking had worsened following the death of his father and mother. He had been living with his parents since 2004 after a stint in jail. After his parents' death, a sibling living with him moved out to a supported living facility after a mental health breakdown, leaving Mark as the sole tenant of the family home.
"He's always been a bit of a drunk but when my mum died, that's when he started drinking properly," said Michael. "I think that's what blew his head off."
The court heard how the family tried multiple times to alert the council and support services of Mark's situation, but help failed to 'materialise'. Michael said the family would often get passed from 'pillar to post' when referring to different agencies and social workers.
Family say Mark had been 'beaten up'
During the inquest, the question of whether Mark exhibited any 'risky behaviour' that could have led to the blaze was posed. Michael said "I don't think he started the fire," and added he does not believe Mark started the blaze 'intentionally'.
The court also heard of Mark's several visits to A&E hospitals in the Wigan area and one instance in Blackpool. In some visits, Mark showed signs of lacerations and bruising on his face and body.
Sonia Vernal said when she asked Mark about the injuries, he would say he had fallen, or been 'mugged by a stranger'. She told the coroner she did not believe Mark's explanation. "It was clear as day that he'd been beaten up but would say that he'd fallen or been jumped by a stranger," she said.
Sonia told the court of instances where the people who had begun living with Mark would change the keys and return after the family had 'kicked them out'.
Evidence from Natasha Gibson, a long-time friend of the family, was also read. She recalled alerting Sonia that someone had 'taken over the property' and described the house as 'disgusting'. She watched as Mark's appearance became 'really scruffy', noting he had 'always changed his clothes, been washed and freshly shaved' in the past. She recalled seeing Mark with blood and bruising on his face and did not believe him when he said he had 'fallen down the stairs, pissed'.
Coroner Hartley also read a witness statement given to police by Brian Cooper, a friend of a man called Michael Marsh. Summarising, she said the statement recounted the movements between Mr Marsh and Mr Cooper from Sunday August 11 to Friday August 16, and that during those days, neither attended Mark's home on Dumbarton Green. Proceedings continue.
