A CATASTROPHIC ceiling collapse which killed a pensioner at a Liverpool nursing home was accidental, a coroner’s jury ruled.

Mary Potter, 89, died of head injuries after a rotten ceiling above a lounge window at St Michael’s Manor care home, in Allerton, crashed down on her and five fellow residents.

All six pensioners were injured, but Mrs Potter died three days later on December 1 last year.

The verdict at Liverpool coroner’s court left Mrs Potter’s family shaken.

Her son, Bill Kirk, and daughter Judith Clucas were clearly shocked and disappointed, and were too upset to talk minutes after the inquest ended.

They asked to be allowed time to “get our heads together” before speaking about their ordeal over the past year.

Before announcing their verdict, the jury asked deputy Liverpool coroner Douglas Fraser whether something which was preventable could be classed as “accidental”. Mr Fraser confirmed it could.

Throughout the inquest, Mr Kirk quizzed witnesses about whether proper checks were carried out on the home, a Grade II-listed building.

He was told the home did not stick to “best practice” in carrying out regular routine inspections, as suggested by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines.

An HSE engineer also agreed additional structural and electrical checks should have been carried out after a flood in Mrs Potter’s room, which was above the ceiling, days before the accident.

But, while summing up, Mr Fraser stressed the care home would not have known there was wet and dry rot in the ceiling and so would not have carried out random checks as a result.

Mrs Potter’s family were clearly upset about the treatment she received at the Royal Liverpool Hospital after the collapse.