Inquest hears tragic death of young boy

Inquest hears tragic death of young boy

4 May 2016

PROPER medical procedures were not followed the day an 11 year-old boy died in hospital, a preliminary inquest has heard.

Eleven year-old Stephen McElroy, from Ballyward outside Castlewellan, died hours after being discharged from Daisy Hill Hospital in March last year.

The football fanatic had been taken to hospital by his parents after becoming ill on March 28.

He was later allowed home but was taken back to hospital when his condition worsened and he collapsed and died.

At a preliminary inquest in Belfast yesterday, Thomas Fitzpatrick, a lawyer for the family, said there was a degree of confusion over the cause of death, which arose from a bowel condition.

The lawyer said there were a number of concerns including an alleged failure to correctly diagnose the child.

He said there were also issues over the availability of a middle-grade doctor, who “may have” diagnosed the boy correctly.

He told the hearing there was nothing in the report that indicated the proper processes that should have been followed on the day of the death were adhered to.

Coroner Joe McCrisken said he would discuss with his medical adviser whether to use an independent expert to review the case.

Addressing Stephen’s parents, Mr McCrisken said if a mistake was made it was important to ensure another family does not go through a similar ordeal.

Stephen’s family has set up a charity on memory of the sports fanatic called SMART (NI) - the Stephen McElroy Appreciation and Remembrance Team — which was launched earlier this year.

A full inquest into the death is expected to be held in September or October this year.