Inquiry into Raychel’s death to be heard next January/February

care will next January/February consider in detail the case of Londonderry schoolgirl Raychel Ferguson - who died ten years ago after fluids were maladministered in the wake of a routine appendix operation at Altnagelvin.

Mr John O’Hara QC, Chairman of the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths, told a progress hearing in Banbridge Courthouse last Thursday that Raychel’s case would be the last to be considered after those of Adam Strain, who died

at the age of 4 years in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children on the 28th of November 1995, Claire Roberts, who died at the age of 9 years on the 23rd of October 1996 at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and Conor

Mitchell, who died at the age of 15 in 2003.

Raychel was given the wrong level of fluid required to treat dehydration and died from hyponatraemia - a disturbance caused by a shortage of sodium in the body - in the Royal Victoria Hospital after being treated in Altnagelvin in

June 2001.

She died just 14 months after toddler Lucy Crawford died in similar circumstances in Fermanagh.

Addressing the progress hearing Mr O’Hara explained that whilst the Inquiry would open on November 7 with a general

introduction it would be next year before Raychel’s death was considered.

He said: “There will then be a detailed opening of each section of the Inquiry as it goes along. For instance, in the following week, the week beginning Monday 14th November, when I start to hear evidence in relation to Adam’s case there will be a more detailed opening of that section and so on as we move from Claire to Raychel and then to Conor.

“Raychel’s case will then follow the same pattern in the weeks commencing 30th January, 6th and 13th February.”

Mr O’Hara said it was not likely any further progress hearings would take place until September 12.