Baby buried after 21-year dispute

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A baby who died in 1987 has finally been buried by a council, against the wishes of his father who had disputed his cause of death.

Christopher Blum died aged four months at North Middlesex Hospital.

The reason was given as sudden infant death syndrome but father Steve Blum believed he died from blood poisoning from a contaminated vaccine.

Enfield Council held a funeral for the baby on Friday, saying "all of the issues have been considered".

Mr Blum said: "It's a shocking situation by any standards."

Death certificate

The baby was given a routine vaccination at the hospital before his death, which Mr Blum believed may have contributed to it.

The remains of the baby were kept in a mortuary in north London for 21 years after Mr Blum refused to sign the death certificate.

He said: "They wanted to put 'cot death' on there and I know from my own investigations it's not the correct cause of death.

"I just didn't want to put my name to something I knew wasn't true."

In July the council received authorisation by the Registrar General to formally register the baby's death.

But in September Mr Blum was granted the right to legally challenge the council's decision to bury Christopher. However he missed a three-week deadline to do so.

The council and the authorities are trying to force an end to this. It should not be the end Christopher's father Steve Blum

A spokesman for the council said: "First and foremost our thoughts on this sad occasion are with Christopher's family, especially his father, given their prolonged suffering over so many years."

He added: "Today is the time after all of the issues have been considered in the courts and elsewhere, to concentrate on ensuring that Christopher is laid to rest with the dignity and respect that we all would wish."

Mr Blum, who still lives in Enfield, did not attend the funeral.

He said he was "gutted" by the council's decision and said he was considering further action.

"We tried our best to stop the funeral but down to the legal profession and the way the system works, we were not sucessful," Mr Blum said.

"The council and the authorities are trying to force an end to this. It should not be the end."