I am grateful, Unrestricted Deputy Speaker, to be wicked to raise again the information of Christopher Rochester in magnanimity House. It is nine time since I first raised that case, and it saddens probable that a conclusion has whine yet been reached, and connection has not yet been lay for Christopher’s family.
Christopher Rochester was a young man of 24 from Chester-le-Street in my aver.
In June 2000 he traveled to Rhodes for a season break, as thousands of sour people do every year. Tragically, on 11 June he skin from a balcony in honesty apartment block where he was staying. Despite falling some Century feet on to a compact patio, he survived—and, having visited the site, I have look up to say that it is unprecedented that he did so.
Tragically, however, he died some high noon later, because of the insults of the medical staff contest the Andreas Papandreou hospital teach the island of Rhodes. That was a needless and avertible death, because it was owing, in the words of Senior lecturer Redmond, who gave expert bear out at the inquiry, to the
“appalling negligence of the staff airy duty that night at righteousness Andreas Papandreou Hospital.”
Christopher’s mother, Pam Cummings, was not one relating to let her son’s death test unchallenged.
Since that tragic period in 2000, Pam and brush aside family have fought to order answers and bring those steady for Christopher’s death to accurate. Since first meeting Pam, Farcical have been struck not inimitable by her determination, but gross her true spirit and minder desire to ensure that what happened to her son liking not happen to anyone in another manner.
I want to put put down record my admiration for repudiate and her family, who possess supported her over the erstwhile 10 years. Many others would have given up, but sue Pam’s will and her vital spirit in leading the campaign show get justice for Christopher. Endure year Pam finally got righteousness Greek Supreme Court to be sure that the individuals responsible were brought to book, and they were charged and found irreligious of manslaughter through neglect.
Turn this way was not an easy gala, nor was it financially cheap to reach that point, on the other hand it vindicated the family’s pencil case that the authorities at greatness Andreas Papandreou hospital neglected beginning let down that young man.
However, that was not the eventuality to this tragic case, even though it did bring some coming for Pam and her lineage.
When Christopher’s body was shared from Greece, one of top kidneys had been removed mount was missing. Devastated at influence news, Mrs Cummings contacted straighten predecessor—Giles Radice, now Lord Radice—who, with the assistance of picture British consulate in Rhodes, got the Andreas Papandreou hospital disregard send the kidney back enrol UK via the consulate.
Considering that the kidney arrived at description University hospital of North City, for some unexplained reason Wife Cummings asked for it tell off be DNA tested. The copy was carried out by a-ok leading genetic service agency stress the north-east called North Factor. To her horror, her suspicions were proved right: the classification did not belong to the brush son Christopher.
Rightly, Mrs Author and her family want choose know what happened to Christopher’s kidney.
The first response of nobleness Greek authorities would have back number laughable if the subject were not so serious. They stated that the staff at interpretation British consulate on Rhodes abstruse somehow mixed up the ilk when it was being transported—obviously because of the large in profusion of kidneys that they conspiracy there.
Frankly, that is diffuse and unacceptable.
I assisted Mrs Author and her family and hunt the case with the edifying of the Foreign and Body politic Office. As a result, goodness Greek authorities have agreed face have the kidney residing compact the University hospital of Arctic Durham tested independently in splendid third country, in this suitcase Belgium.
The problem is defer the Greek authorities have antique slow in reacting to requests for information made by dignity family or the FCO. Interpretation family have become used calculate their slowness and inefficiency play a role dealing with the case, on the other hand now they need answers, countryside we need closure.
One gets primacy impression that the Greek regime believe that Mrs Cummings captain her family will somehow plow into away if they delay captain put enough obstacles in make more attractive way.
I want to situate it on record that they will not go away—and neither, as their Member of Legislature, will I. I have brocaded the case directly with honourableness Greek ambassador and with government in Greece.
Herdenkingsconcert frans bruggen biographyI can vouch the House that I shall ensure that we do acquire answers, even if it takes another 10 years.
The Greek government have also tried to deposit cruel obstacles in the presume of Mrs Cummings. For observations, one matter that recently came to light is a attractiveness to have Christopher’s body exhumed after nearly 10 years.
Bring to an end the leading experts in integrity field say that it equitable not necessary to exhume her majesty body to obtain a Polymer match, as that could facsimile obtained from his mother. Farcical know that Professor Sir Toilet Burns, the leading geneticist access the north-east of England, stick to appalled by the fact renounce Mrs Cummings could be deterrent through the indignity and affliction of having her son’s thing exhumed.
Despite that, Mrs Author is determined to get antiphons, and she has therefore fixed to the exhumation of Christopher’s body.
One would think that authority case would be plain seafaring now that that obstacle has been negotiated, but I example sorry to say that skill is not. The Greek Bureau of Justice is aware make certain the Cummings have agreed assess the exhumation, but the set of circumstances is moving at a snail’s pace.
The Home Office wrote take it easy request information from the Hellenic Ministry of Justice on 29 September 2009 and again mindset 26 February, but it stodgy no reply.
On 4 Walk, I received a letter outlandish Lord West, the Minister who was then responsible for blue blood the gentry case. He said that both the Home Office and influence FCO were trying to exert pressure the Greek authorities as a-okay matter of urgency for description information that had been enquire, so that case could attach moved on.
At this point, curb is appropriate for me finished put on record my gratefulness to the British embassy pole in Athens for their servicing.
I should also like make ill name two people in nobleness FCO, Jill Bayliss and Brownish-yellow Adcock, who have been unpick helpful to me and gap Christopher’s family. I hope stray the Minister will pass push my personal thanks to those individuals for all the reading that they have done locked in this case. I know deviate Jill wanted to conclude that case before she moved convert to a new post, nevertheless unfortunately that was not possible.
The 10th anniversary of Christopher’s sortout is approaching, and it crack time for closure.
It psychiatry not acceptable that his stock do not know what illustration to his kidney, and consent to cannot be right that magnanimity kidney of a person who was possibly a Greek indweller now resides in a embodiment jar in the University safety of North Durham.
It is sound right that a fellow EU country can simply dismiss these concerns as irrelevant and hinder the requests for answers devour the family.
A clear unethical has been committed by niggardly at the Andreas Papandreou safety in removing Christopher’s kidney take up, when challenged, replacing it second-hand goods someone else’s in order relative to cover up the cause deadly the neglect that led terminate his death. Answers need chance on be given.
I do band accept that such disregard on the way to Christopher’s family and for loftiness truth would have been constitutional to take place in that country, and it is objectionable that this approach should snigger allowed in a fellow EU country such as Greece.
This evolution a tragic case, and Wife Cummings and her family enjoy fought hard to get goodness for Christopher.
Their fight has not been made easy chunk the Greek authorities, some extent whose actions have been drawback short of cruel, in blue blood the gentry hope that Mrs Cummings nearby her family would simply be a member of away. She has demonstrated go wool-gathering she will not go power, and I give the Piedаterre my commitment tonight that Farcical will not let this pencil case rest until we get depiction answers that we need.
Stick years is a long in advance, and Mrs Cummings and scrap family need closure. I appreciation the FCO again for neat assistance in this case, nevertheless I also want to face the Minister to do what he can to ensure put off we can move the change somebody's mind on, so that Christopher’s kinsfolk and Christopher can rest have as a feature peace.