Inquest into Claire Roberts hyponatraemia death to proceed
The nine-year-old from Belfast died in the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1996 from hyponatraemia, which is caused by lack of sodium.
An inquest is to proceed into the death of Claire Roberts, a lawyer told a coroner’s court in Northern Ireland.
The nine-year-old, from Rochester Road in Belfast, died in the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1996 from hyponatraemia – which is caused by lack of sodium in the bloodstream.
She was at the centre of a public inquiry into the deaths of several children in hospitals.
The inquiry concluded that the tragedies were avoidable.
A lawyer told a preliminary hearing of the inquest in Belfast: “The police investigation is likely to take a very lengthy period of time because it is going to be an investigation looking at all aspects of Mr Justice O’Hara’s report.”
He added: “We consider the inquest could proceed in advance of the police completing their investigation.”
Coroner Joe McCrisken instructed legal counsel to draft a witness list and address the scope of the hearing.
Police can request the inquest to be adjourned if someone is charged with a serious criminal offence.
In January, Mr Justice O’Hara ascribed Claire’s death to negligent care, and said there was a cover-up.
A new inquest was ordered by Attorney General John Larkin QC following publication of the inquiry’s findings.
The inquest will sit again later this month.
