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Fracture mystery 'answers needed' | Fracture mystery 'answers needed' |
(30 minutes later) | |
The children of a 78-year-old Strabane woman say they will continue to fight for a public inquiry despite the health minister's refusal to grant one. | |
Maureen McGinley died from pneumonia at Altnagelvin Hospital last January. A post-mortem examination revealed 34 bones were broken after her death. | |
But Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said a public inquiry would not shed any further light on what happened. | |
Her daughter, Tina, is angry that Mr McGimpsey did not contact the family. | |
Mr McGimpsey never even phoned the house or phoned anybody to let us know that there wouldn't be a public inquiry Maureen McGinley's daughter | Mr McGimpsey never even phoned the house or phoned anybody to let us know that there wouldn't be a public inquiry Maureen McGinley's daughter |
"A neighbour came to the door and said she was sorry that we didn't get a public inquiry, and that's the way we were told about it," she said. | "A neighbour came to the door and said she was sorry that we didn't get a public inquiry, and that's the way we were told about it," she said. |
"Mr McGimpsey never even phoned the house or phoned anybody to let us know that there wouldn't be a public inquiry into it. We're just all devastated." | "Mr McGimpsey never even phoned the house or phoned anybody to let us know that there wouldn't be a public inquiry into it. We're just all devastated." |
On Thursday, the health minister, explaining his decision, said: "My understanding is that events surrounding Mrs McGinley's death have been subjected to a very comprehensive examination, both internally by the trust and by the coroner's service, who took responsibility for delivering her body to the Belfast City Mortuary for post-mortem. | On Thursday, the health minister, explaining his decision, said: "My understanding is that events surrounding Mrs McGinley's death have been subjected to a very comprehensive examination, both internally by the trust and by the coroner's service, who took responsibility for delivering her body to the Belfast City Mortuary for post-mortem. |
"Despite that comprehensive investigation it has not been possible to provide a totally satisfactory explanation for the fractures which Mrs McGinley sustained after her death. | |
For the sake of the family, we need a full, external and independent inquiry, where people who had dealings with Maureen's body after her death are interviewed Dr Kieran DeeneyIndependent MLA | For the sake of the family, we need a full, external and independent inquiry, where people who had dealings with Maureen's body after her death are interviewed Dr Kieran DeeneyIndependent MLA |
"I am of the view that any further review, or indeed a public inquiry, into the circumstances is unlikely to shed any further light on how this unfortunate incident occurred." | "I am of the view that any further review, or indeed a public inquiry, into the circumstances is unlikely to shed any further light on how this unfortunate incident occurred." |
Between the pensioner's death in January 2007 and examination by the coroner, Mrs McGinley's body sustained numerous fractures, primarily to her rib cage. | |
Internal inquiries at the hospital and the Coroner's Office failed to establish who was responsible. | Internal inquiries at the hospital and the Coroner's Office failed to establish who was responsible. |
Mrs McGinley's children have campaigned vigorously for answers and collected more than 14,000 signatures on a petition calling for a public inquiry. | Mrs McGinley's children have campaigned vigorously for answers and collected more than 14,000 signatures on a petition calling for a public inquiry. |
Independent MLA Dr Kieran Deeney, who sits on the Stormont health committee, said "internal inquiries do not boost public confidence". | Independent MLA Dr Kieran Deeney, who sits on the Stormont health committee, said "internal inquiries do not boost public confidence". |
"For the sake of the family, we need a full, external and independent inquiry, where people who had dealings with Maureen's body after her death are interviewed," he said. | "For the sake of the family, we need a full, external and independent inquiry, where people who had dealings with Maureen's body after her death are interviewed," he said. |