No Inquiry On Fractured Body Mystery

The family of a woman who suffered mysterious injuries after her death in hospital are incensed over a high level decision not to hold a full investigation.

Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has decided not to hold a public inquiry into how a pensioner's body suffered 34 broken bones after her death in an Ulster hospital.

Mr McGimpsey said an independent probe would be unlikely to shed any further light on what happened to the body of 78-year-old Maureen McGinley.

Explaining his decision yesterday, he said: "My understanding is that events surrounding Mrs McGinley's death have been subjected to a very comprehensive examination, both internally by the trust and by the coroner's service, who took responsibility for delivering her body to the Belfast City Mortuary for post-mortem.

"Despite that comprehensive investigation it has not been possible to provide a totally satisfactory explanation for the fractures which Mrs McGinley sustained after her death.

However, Dr Kieran Deeney, and medical practitioner and Independent MLA has said that for the sake of the family, a full, external and independent inquiry, where people who had dealings with Maureen's body after her death are interviewed, is needed.

"I am of the view that any further review, or indeed a public inquiry, into the circumstances is unlikely to shed any further light on how this unfortunate incident occurred."

Between the pensioner's death in January 2007 and examination by the coroner, Mrs McGinley's body sustained numerous fractures, primarily to her rib cage.

Internal inquiries at the hospital and the Coroner's Office failed to establish who was responsible.

Mrs McGinley's children have campaigned vigorously for answers and collected more than 14,000 signatures on a petition calling for a public inquiry.

Dr Deeney, who himself sits on the Stormont Health Committee, said "internal inquiries do not boost public confidence".

The Strabane woman died in Altnagelvin Hospital in January 2007.

(BMcC)