Britain's oldest stabbing victim: Son, 61, held after 100-year-old mother is knifed to death

A 100-YEAR-OLD woman found knifed to death in her home is thought to be Britain's oldest stabbing victim. Hannah Fitzgibbon, who received a telegram from the Queen in September, was discovered with a fatal knife wound to her neck at her house in Whitechapel, East London shortly before 10am today. Police have launched a murder inquiry and have arrested a 61-year-old man, believed to be her son Michael, who a neighbour said was a black cab driver. Neighbours said frail Hannah was partially deaf, short-sighted and walked with a zimmer frame. She lived with her son in a sheltered housing one-bedroom bungalow. Her son is believed to have slept in the lounge. A friend and neighbour called Julia, 74, said: 'She was a lovely lady and this is absolutely terrible I can't believe it. 'She turned 100 in September and she even got a telegram from the Queen. 'It took pride of place on her cabinet in the lounge and I remember her saying to me how thrilled she was to get something from the Queen. 'Michael her son is a nice person, who looked after his mum and did a lot for her. 'She was very deaf and a bit short-sighted. She needed a zimmer frame to walk, so she never left her home. 'I last saw her a couple of weeks ago and she seemed fine. They were a lovely family and she has lived there a long time, more than 10 years. 'Michael slept in the sitting room because there's only one bedroom.' Another male neighbour who did not want to be named said: 'She was an East End girl and she had lived here for years. Michael was a quiet bloke who kept himself to himself. He worked as a black cab driver.' Neighbour Susan Lowe, 54, said: 'I heard she was stabbed in the neck and that the police have taken him away. That poor old lady, I remember her 100th birthday, because everyone took flowers round to them and there were balloons with 100 on outside." A police spokesman said: 'A murder inquiry has been launched after the fatal stabbing of an elderly woman in E1. 'Police were called at 9.45 on Wednesday 24th February to an address in Hainton Close, E1 to reports of an elderly female stabbed. 'London ambulance service and police attend and discover a 100 year old female suffering from a single stab wound to the neck. 'She was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed. 'A 61 year old man has been arrested and is currently in custody.' A post mortem is due to take place.