Wigan Man's Death Linked to 'Cuckooing' After Fire

Mark Vernal, a 42-year-old vulnerable man, tragically died in a house fire in Wigan on August 14, 2024. An inquest into his death has heard that his family believes he was subjected to 'cuckooing' in the months leading up to the incident. This practice involves criminals exploiting vulnerable individuals by occupying their homes for illicit purposes.

Evidence presented at Bolton Coroner's Court suggested that Mr. Vernal, who suffered from alcohol dependency and mental health issues, had allowed "hangers-on" to exploit his vulnerability. Neighbours and family members had repeatedly alerted Wigan Council and police about the deteriorating condition of his home and concerns for his safety. Despite these warnings, help failed to materialize.

The inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding the fire and whether Mr. Vernal displayed any risky behavior that could have contributed to it. His family maintains they do not believe he intentionally started the blaze. Mr. Vernal had also sought A&E treatment for visible injuries on several occasions, which he attributed to falls or being mugged, though his sister expressed disbelief.