(Charlotte with Nancy at the hospital when she was born in 2002)

A mother has made legal history after she won a High Court case to end the life of her severely disabled 12-year-old daughter.

Nancy Fitzmaurice was born blind and suffering from hydrocephalus, meningitis and septicemia, which left her unable to talk, walk, eat or drink.

Her quality of life was so poor she depended on round the clock hospital care and was fed, watered and medicated through a tube at London’s Great Ormand Street Hospital.

Collect Nancy age 2 . Re, A disabled 12-year-old girl has died after her mother ìwonî a landmark High Court ruling that her daughterís life should be ended. See swns story SWRIGHT. Charlotte Fitzmaurice handed a 312-word statement to a judge explaining why her child - born blind and suffering with hydrocephalus, meningitis and septicaemia - should no longer suffer.ìMy daughter is no longer my daughter she is now merely just a shell,î she wrote. ìThe light from her eyes is now gone and is replaced with fear and a longing to be peace.îAfter reading the heartbreaking words a judge immediately granted Charlotteís request and Nancy died at Londonís Great Ormond Street.The ruling sets a precedent as it is the first time a child breathing on their own, not on life support and not suffering from a terminal illness has been allowed to die.Her disability meant Nancy couldnít walk, talk, eat or drink. In the end her quality of life was so poor she depended on round the clock hospital care and was fed, watered and medicated through a tube. But the decision, which was fully supported by medics at the world famous childrenís hospital, will reignite the ìright-to-dieî debate. PLEASE NOTE EMBARGO UNTILL 3PM 26 OCTOBER.

Little Nancy

‘My daughter is no longer my daughter she is now merely just a shell,’ she wrote.

‘The light from her eyes is now gone and is replaced with fear and a longing to be peace.’

Justice Eleanor King at the High Court of Justice read Charlotte’s moving plea and instantly declared it was in mother and daughter’s best interests to withdraw fluids she needed to survive.