DETECTIVES have launched an investigation after a mum died from injuries suffered in a baseball bat attack nine years ago.

Coroner Michael Singleton asked police to re-open their inquiry into the asault on Marie Holmes after a post-mortem examination this week confirmed the link.

Detectives have ordered a Home Office pathologist to review the evidence as they consider whether to treat the case as manslaughter.

Ms Holmes' family claimed the attack was carried out by a ‘jealous love rival’ who objected to Marie’s friendship with another man.

They said she was never the same after the onslaught in her own home Ms Holmes, 46, died on June 3 this year after being admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from fits.

But results of a post mortem examination announced at an inquest revealed she died from a cerebral infarction - a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain.

This was caused by a head injury which was the result of an assault, Blackburn Coroner’s Court heard.

Ms Holmes was the victim of a baseball bat attack in Cockridge Close, Livesey Branch Road, in January 2001 which left her with a fractured skull and needing several weeks of treatment in Royal Preston Hospital.

Police said the initial assault was overnight between January 12 and 13 2001. A woman was charged in connection with Ms Holmes' assault, but the case discontinued on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Detectives from the Force Major Investigation Team, which leads inquiries into Lancashire's most serious cases, are trying to find out why that decision was made as they re-investigate.

Marie, one of nine brothers and sisters, had problems with alcohol for several years and had suffered a series of family tragedies in her unhappy life, her family said.

She had three children, Nicola, Wayne and Shane - Shane died aged 11 in a car crash on Preston New Road in 2004.

A month after that, her youngest sister Kathleen committed suicide, family said.

Sister Pauline McKay, 45, of Bombay Street, Blackburn, said: “It would be a bit late to see some help now that she’s dead, with people jumping in as though they care. She really needed help when she was alive.

“I think it is disgusting and sad to bring the investigation after all this time. But I do hope this investigation gets to the bottom of it.

“She did well recovering from that attack physically as she was left battered in her own home with a fractured skull and had to crawl to a neighbour’s for help.

“No-one was ever punished for it, even though Marie knew who had done it. Now she’s dead they are going to investigate. Well they should have done it there and then."

Pauline told of the effect the injuries had on her sister: "Marie never said she was in physical pain form her injuries, but she wasn’t ever the same again. It had some disruption in her brain.

“None of the authorities ever made sure she was safe. She was a lovely person before this horrible world did what it did to her.

“I didn’t think her death was right at the time. It was too quick and she wasn’t at peace."

At the short inquest hearing Coroner Michael Singleton asked the police to carry out further investigations after the results of the post-mortem examination were produced.

“I understand the police have instructed a Home Office pathologist to carry out a review of the evidence and I understand the investigation is ongoing,” said Mr Singleton.

An update on the investigation will be given to the coroner on December 22 .