Report calls for reinvestigation of orphan’s death

A report into the death of a Romanian orphan who was adopted along with his twin brother by a former missionary from Portadown, Co Armagh, has recommended that police reinvestigate the child’s death.

David Filipache was adopted by Geoffrey Briggs and his wife in July 2000, but died three months later.

Thirteen days after his death Mr and Mrs Briggs brought his twin brother Samuel to hospital with a fractured skull and other injuries.

Mr Briggs admitted punching Samuel and was subsequently jailed for 12 months for causing grievous bodily harm.

The coroner later exhumed David’s body and found that he had suffered multiple fractures to his ribs and body, which were not suffered accidentally.

These injuries were not recorded in the original post mortem, which failed to find a cause of death.

The report into the matter has now recommended that police reinvestigate the death.

It also criticised the authorities in the North for failing to properly monitor the Romanian orphans after they arrived in Northern Ireland and for failing to take action after the full implications of David’s death became known.

It said the Craigavon and Banbridge Community Health and Social Services Trust was responsible for monitoring the placement of the twins with Mr and Mrs Briggs, but it failed to properly visit or support the children.

Mr Briggs left the North after serving his prison term for assaulting Samuel, who was placed for adoption with another family.

Responding to today’s report Angela Smith, the British Government’s health minister in the North, promised to implement its 39 recommendations.

She also said she was determined to ensure that the authorities in the North learned lessons from the matter.