Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Sunday 16°CMonday 17°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
HealthNews

Raychel Ferguson’s parents want truth in inquest after ’18 years of hell’

written by John November 5, 2019
ShareTweet

Raychel Ferguson who died in Belfast hospital after being transferred from Altnagelvin hospital

THE still heartbroken parents of a nine-year-old Derry girl who died from hyponatremia have said they hope a new inquest will give them truth and justice.

Raychel Ferguson died at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children 18 years ago.

Northern Ireland’s attorney general John Larkin QC has directed the coroner to open a new inquest into her death.

“All we ever wanted from the start was the truth and we didn’t get it,” her mother Marie Ferguson told BBC News NI.

The Western Health Trust said it would not comment on individual cases but it “always cooperates fully and openly in every coroner’s inquest.”

Raychel’s death in June 2001 came a day after an appendix operation at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.

Hyponatraemia is an abnormally low level of sodium in blood and can occur when fluids are given incorrectly.

Raychel’s parents Ray and Marie Ferguson have long campaigned to find out the truth about their daughter’s death.

A previous inquest into their daughter’s death held in 2003 was a “shambles”, said Mrs Ferguson.

She said a number of key documents were at that time withheld from the coroner.

“The full circumstances around what happened to Raychel were not told to the coroner,” she added.

“I am hoping this time the true circumstances about Raychel’s death will be put out there.”

Last year an inquiry into the deaths of five children in Northern Ireland hospitals, including Raychel, found her death was avoidable.

The 14-year-long Inquiry Into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths was heavily critical of the “self-regulating and unmonitored” health service.

In his report, Mr Justice O’Hara found there was a “reluctance among clinicians to openly acknowledge failings” in Raychel’s death.

He said Raychel’s death was the result of “negligent care”.

In 2013, the Western Health and Social Care Trust admitted liability for her death.

“I often sit and think: Do the doctors and nurses and the legal advisors ever sit and think was this worth it?” said Mrs Ferguson.

“They have put us through 18 years of hell.

Inquiry chair Mr Justice O’Hara found that four out of the five child deaths were preventable

“They might have thought we were going to give up – perhaps they can see now how important our only daughter was to us as a family.

“I will fight and leave no stone unturned until the full and absolute truth of what happened to her is out there.”

Raychel’s father Ray said he and his wife had never came to terms with the loss of their daughter.

“We can’t put into words how difficult it is – we miss her every minute of every day,” he added.

“You learn to live with it, try to cope but the hurt is always there.”

Raychel Ferguson’s parents want truth in inquest after ’18 years of hell’ was last modified: November 5th, 2019 by John

Tags:
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN LARKIN QCRaychel Ferguson's parents want truth in inquest after '18 years of hell'ROYAL BELFAST HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDRENThe Hyponatraemia InquiryWESTERN TRUST
ShareTweet
John

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Man charged to court over Derry drugs...

14 hours ago

Rory Gallagher Festival gets green light for...

15 hours ago

Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

1 day ago

Funeral of mother and daughter killed in...

1 day ago

Boyce hat-trick sends Derry City into seventh...

2 days ago

Dance company loses appeal over 100% annual...

2 days ago

Unmissable music events coming to the Abbey...

2 days ago

New leaflet to help older people beat...

2 days ago

Man charged with possessing indecent images of...

2 days ago

Loving mother and daughter killed in Donegal...

3 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Man charged to court over Derry drugs seizure

    July 6, 2025
  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025
  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy