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Inquest into Salford mother found dead with daughter continues
Martina Karos, 42, and Eleni Edwards, aged eight, were found at the home they shared on South Radford Street, Kersal, after police were called when the child failed to attend her special school on September 23, 2024.
A pathologist gave the cause of death for both as carbon monoxide toxicity, Bolton Coroner’s Court heard.
Police later said they were not looking for anyone else in their investigation into the deaths.
Ms Karos, originally from Poland and who had worked as a translator, had struggled with her mental health following the break-up of a relationship, and that caring for her daughter left her feeling socially isolated and lonely, the joint inquests into the deaths of the mother and daughter was told.
She had told a friend she felt life was not worth living, and had become emotionally distant at times from her daughter.
Eleni was put on a Child Protection Plan by social service staff at Salford City Council in January 2024, and mother and child had a range of support services, the inquest heard.
These included daily visits from carers, social workers, short and medium-term respite care, counselling, talking therapy and psychotherapy.
Social workers had also accompanied Ms Karos to social activities to try to get her to make new friendships – but she struggled with such initiatives, the hearing was told.
Sophie Cartwright KC, representing Salford Safeguarding Children Partnership, asked witness Tammy Young, service manager at Greater Manchester Mental Health: “If a patient doesn’t want to engage, is there anything else that can be done?”
“No,” Ms Young said, “She had very broad interventions.”
Harriet Jones, a service manager for Children’s Services at Salford City Council, said Eleni was put on the child protection plan due to a risk of emotional, not physical harm, because of her mother’s low moods.
Ms Jones said Ms Karos told social workers her unhappiness was through feeling “stuck”, isolated and lonely, and she wanted to make friends.
As she could not work due to caring responsibilities for her daughter, Ms Karos felt lonely during the day when Eleni attended a special school and most people were at work.
So, respite care was increased so Ms Karos could attend activities on evenings and weekends, the inquest was told.
Ms Jones said social workers set up an app of activities for Ms Karos and suggested activities involving groups including, gardening, sports and “women who walk”.
She added: “We tried lots and lots of things. We exhausted any available resource in Salford.”
Ms Karos would say she did not know what to do with herself when she was not caring for Eleni, the hearing was told, and Ms Jones suggested it was not a lack of time that was the issue, but the lack of social connections to use that time.
Ms Karos was born in Lublin, and as a child moved to Italy with her family. She moved to England in 2003 and studied languages at university, working as a translator and interpreter.
After being told she could not have children, she became pregnant with Eleni and was “surprised and excited”.
The pregnancy was normal but six months or so after her daughter’s birth in June 2016, it became apparent Eleni was very severely disabled, unable to see or communicate verbally and with restricted mobility.
Ms Karos was described as a “devoted” mother, and Eleni was happy and “thriving” despite her disabilities.
The inquest was adjourned until Thursday.
