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New mum dies on first night out after baby's birth: 'Started shaking'

A new mum died after ingesting cocaine while celebrating her first night out since the birth of her son, a UK court heard this week.

Rebecca Tollan, 23, was pronounced dead at a home in Lanarkshire, Scotland, on July 15, 2019, after visiting a local pub with her sister-in-law, Pamela Tollan, 31, Glasgow Live reports.

While there, two men ordered the women drinks, prompting the pair to go sit with them. All four were “having a laugh” when Ms Tollan — otherwise known as Becky — asked the men if they had any “stuff”, Pamela told the High Court on Wednesday.

“I knew exactly what she meant...asking if they had any cocaine.”

New mum Rebecca Tollan, 23, with her baby bump before her death.
New mum Rebecca Tollan, 23, was pronounced dead at a home in Lanarkshire, Scotland, on July 15, 2019. Source: Facebook

It’s alleged one of them, named Barry McAuley, 40, then handed Pamela “a wee bag”. Needing to use the toilet, the 31-year-old told the court she and her sister-in-law headed for the bathroom, where the latter took cocaine before the pair returned to the table with Mr McAuley and Martin Stewart, 34, the publication reports.

Mr McAuley and Mr Stewart are charged with culpable homicide. They are accused of “recklessly and unlawfully” providing the “potentially lethal” drug to Ms Tollan. They deny the charges.

New mum 'started shaking'

After leaving the pub, all four went to the home in Lanarkshire, where Pamela claimed more cocaine was consumed. She told the court that at one point she saw four lines on a black plate but didn’t snort any because she’s a “bit of a scaredy-cat”.

When asked if she was concerned about the amount of drugs her sister-in-law was allegedly ingesting, Pamela responded that “Becky was her own person”, Glasgow Live reports.

“No matter how much you told her, she would not listen. I did tell her: ‘You do not need it...you are having a good time’. I told her to stop because you do not need it.”

Left is the last photo of Ms Tollan on Facebook and her at her baby shower right.
Just hours before her death, Ms Tollan posted a photo of herself in what appears to be a bar bathroom. Source: Facebook

After asking the men to call them a taxi, Pamela told jurors Ms Tollan suddenly “started shaking”, reportedly prompting one of the men to ask if the new mum was epileptic. “I kept saying: ‘Becky, come on’. I tried to calm her and say it was alright.”

Despite the best efforts of paramedics called to the scene, the 23-year-old who had abstained from alcohol and drugs during her pregnancy, did not recover.

Tragically, just hours before her death, Ms Tollan posted a photo of her newborn son sleeping in his crib to Facebook. She also uploaded a photo of herself in what appears to be a bar bathroom with the caption: “This maw is oooot (sic).”

The trial continues.

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