"I saw a bucket which I assumed was being used for bathing." It was the sentence, buried within a written statement from a Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) worker, that summed it all up.
Standing outside Rochdale Coroners Court in Tuesday's pouring rain, Awaab Ishak's mum and dad flanked their two legal representatives as they delivered an emotional statement about their 'beautiful' little boy, who was 'full of life and laughter'. They spoke of his coughing fits which 'lasted for days', how their complaints were not acted on - and how they felt 'trapped' in a home which was ultimately killing him.
Then they said it.
