Tragedy of a mother torn

A MOTHER of six who was torn between her family and a volatile relationship hanged herself at her Chadderton home.

Lynne Batey, of Lynton Close, sent a text message to her ex-husband Eric Batey at 1.15am on December 19 to say she could take no more and he should go round to collect their daughter.

Mr Batey, of Ravenwood, Chadderton, rushed round when he got no response on the phone and discovered Mrs Batey hanging from the bannister.

He got the help of a neighbour and the pair helped Mrs Batey down.

Paramedics found a pulse and she was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital but died on December 23 at Trafford General Hospital.

The inquest was told that Mrs Batey (45) had been seeing Stanford Birkett — who her family did not like — for two years.

The couple had a volatile relationship and had argued four days before Mrs Batey’s death.

She kicked Mr Birkett out of her home and dumped his belongings outside his mobile home.

They continued to argue by text message and Mrs Batey indicated that she would try and kill herself — something she had attempted twice before.

Mrs Batey, who had just returned from a holiday in Tenerife with Mr Birkett, had left notes for each of her family members and children as well as funeral details and how she wanted her money dividing up.

Oldham Coroner Simon Nelson said Mrs Batey had taken her own life while the balance of her mind was disturbed.

He said: “Mrs Batey had differences and difficulties with her family because of her relationship with Mr Birkett but the affection, love and care within the family towards Mrs Batey is clear to see.

“Mrs Batey tried to balance her relationship with Mr Birkett, her family, her children and Mr Batey, who she had maintained a close friendship with.

“She tried her hardest to accommodate all these different relationships and in the end it just got too much for her to handle.”