Nurse refuses to answer questions in Raychel Ferguson inquest on the grounds she may incriminate herself

A nurse has told the inquest into the death of 9-year-old Raychel Ferguson that she would not answer some questions on the grounds she could incriminate herself. 

The nurse was giving evidence on the second day of the resumed inquest into the death of the Derry girl. 

Earlier there had been some discussion about the issue of self incrimination. 

Counsel to the Coroner, Michael Chambers, had said that the PSNI were carrying out an investigation into 'everyone and everything' to do with the Hyponatraemia Inquiry. 

He said that the police were keeping 'a watching brief' on the inquest to see if anything arose. 

The inquest was told that witnesses were entitled to be warned if there was a 'real or appreciable risk' they could incriminate themselves. 

The inquest heard that nothing witnesses told the Hyponatraemia Inquiry could be used as part of a criminal case. 

Raychel died in June 2001 a day after having an operation to remove her Appendix. 

Her death was one of those considered in what was termed the Hyponatraemia Inquiry which examined the deaths of five children.

A new inquest was ordered in the case of Raychel Ferguson and today a nurse told how she was working on Ward 6 at the time. 

The nurse said that at the time she would have had more than 10 years experience. 

She told the hearing that it was the norm to use a fluid called Solution 18 which would be ordered by a doctor. 

The nurse said she did not know how the preference for Solution 18 came about. 

The inquest was told that decisions on fluids were taken by doctors and administered by nurses. 

However, when asked specific questions in relation to the treatment Raychel received the nurse said she was refusing to answer on the grounds she may incriminate herself.