Son's tribute to popular mum after heart disease death

An inquest decided the cause of her death at the age of just 56 was ischemic heart disease, which involves the narrowing of the arteries, the major blood vessels in the body.

The inquest heard Ms McGarty had been diagnosed with angina and received spray medication for it.

But her son Paul McGarty told how the day before his mother died he had been messaged by a friend of hers who had suggested she had not looked well.

When he went to her home at Palatine Square in Leigh the following day after work he found she was unresponsive.

Paramedics broke into the property but sadly Ms McGarty was pronounced dead at the scene.

Consultant pathologist Dr David Barker said Ms McGarty had severely-narrowed arteries around her heart and damage to one of the organ’s main pumping chambers.

Dr Barker told the inquest ischemic heart disease is an extremely unpredictable condition.

Coroner Simon Nelson, presiding, found no issues with the medical care offered to Ms McGarty either by her GP practice in Leigh or by Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh (WWL) Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The inquest heard there had been some concerns from Ms McGarty’s family about why a stent was not fitted when she was referred to hospital cardiologists over her angina.

However, the court was told that after tests had been done to assess the narrowing it was decided that fitting a stent was not the best course of action and she should continue on medication instead.

The inquest heard that in the opinion of medical professionals fitting a stent would not have changed the outcome for Ms McGarty.

Police broke into her property on the evening she was found dead and ruled out any suspicious circumstances.

Her son Paul told the inquest his mum was extremely caring and very family-oriented who also enjoyed life and going out with friends.

The inquest was told she last worked at a Bargain Booze near her home around 15 years ago and she had done other jobs including retail, warehouse work and roles at a bingo hall and a social club in Wigan.

Despite the health problems in the last few years of her life Paul told the inquest he had no causes for concern on the last few occasions he saw his mum or corresponded with her by text or phone.

He spoke to some of her friends who told her that right up to the end of her life she was meeting them to go out for a drink and was looking forward to a friend’s 50th birthday and a music night.

Recording his conclusion, Mr Nelson passed on his condolences to Ms McGarty’s family.

He said; “Your mum’s family and friends will all have some very special memories of a lady who comes across as a very bubbly and very caring individual.

“I hope you are able to reflect on the qualities she clearly had.”

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