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Mother calls for child death inquiry chair to resign | Mother calls for child death inquiry chair to resign |
(40 minutes later) | |
The mother of a girl whose death in a hospital is one of five being investigated by a public inquiry has called for the chairman to resign. | The mother of a girl whose death in a hospital is one of five being investigated by a public inquiry has called for the chairman to resign. |
Marie Ferguson's daughter Raychel died at the Royal Hospital in 2001 having been treated at Altnagelvin hospital. | Marie Ferguson's daughter Raychel died at the Royal Hospital in 2001 having been treated at Altnagelvin hospital. |
In 2004 an inquiry was set up to investigate the deaths with John O'Hara QC as its chairman. | In 2004 an inquiry was set up to investigate the deaths with John O'Hara QC as its chairman. |
It has only sat in full public session for one day and further delays have now been announced. | It has only sat in full public session for one day and further delays have now been announced. |
Marie Ferguson said she does not think Mr O'Hara is the right man for the job. | Marie Ferguson said she does not think Mr O'Hara is the right man for the job. |
"The only people I feel this is suiting at the minute is the trust and the more these delays go on other children could be at risk in hospitals," she said. | "The only people I feel this is suiting at the minute is the trust and the more these delays go on other children could be at risk in hospitals," she said. |
"That would be my fear in case any other parent would have to go through what we're going through now at the minute." | "That would be my fear in case any other parent would have to go through what we're going through now at the minute." |
However, the family of another of the children, Adam Strain, have said they "retain confidence in the ability of John O`Hara QC to complete the inquiry". | |
The inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths re-opened on 20 February, eight years after it was first set up. | The inquiry into hyponatraemia-related deaths re-opened on 20 February, eight years after it was first set up. |
Important issues | |
It was adjourned after an expert produced evidence questioning if Adam Strain had died from hyponatraemia. | |
Adam's family said they had been able to listen to what was discussed at a meeting of the medical experts on 22 February. | |
They said they "are encouraged by what the majority of the experts had to say and eagerly await the recording of the next proposed meeting. | |
"The issues coming to light affect not only Adam's family, not just the other families but the whole community in Northern Ireland." | |
'Distressing' | |
On Monday, Mr O'Hara said that he apologised to the families involved and he understood how the adjournment would be distressing. | |
After meeting in England to discuss the new evidence, the inquiry's expert witnesses have decided they still need more time. | |
The inquiry is scheduled to begin again on Monday, 26 March. | The inquiry is scheduled to begin again on Monday, 26 March. |
It was established in 2004 and was primarily set up to investigate the deaths of Raychel Ferguson, Adam Strain and Claire Roberts. | It was established in 2004 and was primarily set up to investigate the deaths of Raychel Ferguson, Adam Strain and Claire Roberts. |
The remit of the inquiry was later broadened to investigate events following the death of Lucy Crawford and also issues arising from the treatment of Conor Mitchell. | The remit of the inquiry was later broadened to investigate events following the death of Lucy Crawford and also issues arising from the treatment of Conor Mitchell. |
The common link is whether the children were administered the wrong amounts of fluid which eventually led to their deaths. | The common link is whether the children were administered the wrong amounts of fluid which eventually led to their deaths. |
The inquiry was suspended in 2005 to allow the PSNI to undertake investigations related to the three cases which it was initially examining. | The inquiry was suspended in 2005 to allow the PSNI to undertake investigations related to the three cases which it was initially examining. |
In 2008, the police indicated that their investigations were complete and the Public Prosecution Service directed that there would be no prosecutions. | In 2008, the police indicated that their investigations were complete and the Public Prosecution Service directed that there would be no prosecutions. |
As a result, the inquiry announced the resumption of its work at a progress hearing on 30 May 2008. | As a result, the inquiry announced the resumption of its work at a progress hearing on 30 May 2008. |
In a statement issued on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the inquiry said: "The inquiry appreciates changes to the schedule are frustrating for the families of the children whose cases it is investigating and for other interested parties. | In a statement issued on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the inquiry said: "The inquiry appreciates changes to the schedule are frustrating for the families of the children whose cases it is investigating and for other interested parties. |
"The revisions to the schedule have been made to enable the inquiry's expert witnesses to have sufficient time to consider the contents of a report by a consultant paediatric neurologist, Professor Fenella Kirkham. This report was submitted to the inquiry on 15 February 2012. | "The revisions to the schedule have been made to enable the inquiry's expert witnesses to have sufficient time to consider the contents of a report by a consultant paediatric neurologist, Professor Fenella Kirkham. This report was submitted to the inquiry on 15 February 2012. |
"A meeting of the experts took place on Wednesday 22 February, at which the report of Professor Kirkham was discussed. That meeting will reconvene and conclude on Friday 9 March." | "A meeting of the experts took place on Wednesday 22 February, at which the report of Professor Kirkham was discussed. That meeting will reconvene and conclude on Friday 9 March." |