Raychel Ferguson Inquest in the interests of justice

The inquest into the death of Raychel Ferguson (9) is due to open today..

Raychel, from Coshquin in the city, was one of five children whose hospital treatment was examined in the Hyponatraemia Inquiry, published in January 2018.

Raychel died on June 10, 2001, at the Royal Children's Hospital in Belfast shortly after transfer from Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry following an appendectomy.

In a statement released by the family's solicitor Desmond Doherty, Raychel’s father and mother, Raymond and Marie Ferguson said: “Raychel’s Inquest is due to begin today. This is after an unlawful Inquest in 2003, a 14-year public Inquiry, and the Attorney General in 2019 Directing a fresh Inquest. 

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“The fact that a second Inquest has been directed in respect of Raychel’s avoidable death speaks to the culture of cover up that has plagued her death involving the medical and legal professions. 

“What happened in Raychel’s case was exposed as much as could be by Judge O’Hara in his Inquiry Report of 2018, which we welcome and rely on. 

It remains to be seen whether the self-serving interests of the medical and legal professions continue, or if the truth is told in the interests of justice. As a family we will wait and see.”