A MOTHER of two has been left with no government support after her husband died of the very rare illness Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (more commonly known as Mad Cow Disease).

David Keswick, from Pica, died of the rare illness just eight weeks after he was diagnosed late last year, leaving his wife Irish and young sons Axel and Ace.

Irish Amistoso Keswick, 34, who is originally from the Philippines, has had no access to support from the government since David died on October 29.

The couple’s youngest son Axel was only 10 days old at the time.

Since David’s death, Irish has been applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK but has not yet had this granted. It means Irish is not entitled to claim any government benefits for herself or her two boys who were both born in the UK.

Since David’s death she has struggled to buy her children’s nappies and pay rent.

Irish worked full time in a laundry doing 12-hour night shifts and paid income tax and National Insurance. A Just Giving Page was set up to try and help the widow and her children afford basic necessities.

Irish and her sons are currently living with David’s sister Susan Byers.

They have been told Irish could be waiting up to six months for her leave to be granted.

Susan said: “We didn’t know David was going to die as quickly as he did, and in a situation like that of Irish six months is a long time to wait without access to any money.”

After being alerted to this issue by The Whitehaven News, MP Trudy Harrison has said her office will deal with this case as a ‘matter of urgency.’

Mrs Harrison said: “Mrs Byers has contacted me to ask for support for Mrs Keswick and her family. I absolutely sympathise with the situation the family finds themselves in, and my office will raise their case with the Home Office as a matter of urgency.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We would urge anyone who has leave to remain in the UK under Family and Human Rights routes who has recently seen their circumstances change to apply to have the no recourse to public funds restriction lifted.

“These requests receive careful consideration in the light of the applicant’s circumstances, and the welfare of any children involved.”

To help visit this JustGiving page.