Teenager’s death focus of new inquest

A new inquest into the death of a 15-year-old Hillsborough schoolboy will be held next year, 20 years after his body was found at his home.

The family of Christopher Coulter have always blamed a combined measles and rubella vaccination that he was given ten days before he died. They insist the schoolboy was healthy and had no history of epilepsy.

The first inquest in 1995 ruled that he died from asphyxia brought on by a seizure.

Northern Ireland Attorney General John Larkin has ordered a second inquest into his death.

At a preliminary hearing coroner Suzanne Anderson said the start date was now being put back to next April.

An American specialist, Dr Marcel Kinsbourne, who was due to appear at the inquest was unable to attend due to commitments.

He previously reviewed the case and said that on the balance of probabilities the vaccine did play a role.

The MR vaccination was subsequently replaced by the combined MMR jab, which provides immunisation against measles, mumps and rubella.

A range of experts are to be called to give evidence.