NI stabbing raises ambulance cover questions

Health chiefs in Derry were today facing embarrassing questions as to why no ambulance was available to take a dying man to hospital at the weekend.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Angela Smith has ordered an investigation into why there were only two ambulances on duty when 23-year-old James McGinley was stabbed in the city centre early on Saturday.

Police took him instead to Altnagelvin Hospital where he died despite treatment.

An ambulance turned up at the scene of the attack four minutes after receiving a call.

A 32-year-old man is due to appear before magistrates in Derry today in connection with the stabbing.

Gabriel McClean, of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, confirmed today that they were due to hold a meeting requesting more resources.

“I would like to offer our condolences to Mr McGinley’s family and relatives at this stage,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

“However, I must stress that within four minutes of the actual call coming in we did have a vehicle which was mobile and ran to the incident.”