Child deaths inquiry facing further delay
�Press Eye Ltd Northern Ireland - 20th February 2012 Mandatory Credit - Photo-Jonathan Porter/Presseye. Inquiry into the hyponatraemia-related deaths of five children begins at Banbridge Court House. The fiche children's deaths happened over a number of years with the public inquiry being established in 2004. 15-year-old Conor Mitchell died in 2003, four-year-old Adam Strain died in 1995, nine-year-old Claire Roberts died in 1996, 17-months-old Lucy Crawford died in 2000 and nine-year-old Raychel Ferguson died in 2001. Raychel Ferguson's parents Marie and Ray leave the court house during a break in the inquiry.
A PUBLIC inquiry – set up eight years ago – into the deaths of five children at hospitals in Northern Ireland suffered a further delay yesterday.
The mother of one of the children – 15-year-old Conor Mitchell– broke down in tears as evidence was given of her son’s worsening condition in the hours before his death.
The inquiry, which opened for public hearings at Banbridge courthouse, is focusing on hyponatraemia, a condition related to the fluid management of patients.
The inquiry is examining the deaths of three children, Adam Strain, aged four, Raychel Ferguson, nine, Claire Roberts, nine, and it is also investigating the events following the deaths of Lucy Crawford, aged 17 months, and specific issues around the treatment of 15-year-old Conor Mitchell.
The court heard that one of the doctors involved with the care of Lucy Crawford was found guilty of serious professional misconduct.
Dr Jarlath O’Donohue worked at the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen where Lucy was treated before being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
John O’Hara QC, who is chairing the inquiry, said a report from Professor Fenella Kirkham, a paediatric neurologist, into the death of Adam Strain raised doubts over whether the child died from hyponatraemia.
He explained that as the report was only submitted to the inquiry last week, more time would be needed before witnesses could give evidence or face questions.
“I cannot contemplate a long delay, for the families any delay stretching into the future is beyond contemplation,” said Mr O’Hara.
Responding to this latest setback, Raychel Ferguson’s mother Marie told the News Letter: “I don’t think any of us need any more delays but we will have to accept it. We are still determined to get to the bottom of what happened to Raychel so that no other family will have to go through what we did.”
Her husband Ray added: “It has been a long battle to get to this stage – eight years. Listening to this [opening statements in court] has brought back a lot of painful memories but we are glad that things are finally moving.”
Mr Ferguson said he was still afraid that another child could still be at risk from hyponatraemia.
“I am afraid even to go near a hospital, I don’t have any confidence in the health service. We have seen nothing to prove that this will not happen to another child, but hopefully this public inquiry will change all that, I don’t know,” he added
The inquiry will sit again on Thursday, March 1, for a progress report.
Established in 2004 by the then minister for health Angela Smith, the public inquiry was suspended in 2005 to allow the PSNI to investigate. In 2008, the police closed their investigations and the PPS directed that no prosecutions be brought.
Hyponatraemia, which can be fatal, is the medical term for a low level of sodium in the blood stream causing the brain cells to swell with too much water.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
