Pathologist facing disciplinary hearing over dead orphan

Northern Ireland’s Assistant State Pathologist is facing British government disciplinary proceedings over his failure to identify multiple fractures on the body of a 14-month-old Romanian orphan who died less than four months after being adopted and taken to live in the North in 2000, it was revealed today.

In a case which sent shockwaves across Ireland and the UK, the injuries were only found when the body was exhumed after the orphan’s twin was taken to hospital 13 days later suffering from a fractured skull.

Assistant pathologist Dr Michael Curtis is working under “restricted practice” while the proceedings instigated by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) take place.

In January he was found not guilty of professional misconduct at a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing into the case.

The NIO said today it had only been able to proceed with its disciplinary proceedings after the GMC case was completed.

A spokesman said they hoped to conclude the proceedings, which will culminate with an internal hearing, in the next two to three months.

The boy’s adoptive father, former overseas missionary Geoffrey Briggs, was jailed for two years for causing grievous bodily harm to the injured twin after admitting punching him. The boy no longer lives with him or his wife.

No charges have been brought over the death of the dead twin, but the Director of Public Prosecutions is currently examining a file sent to them following a fresh police investigation into the case, it was confirmed today.

The boys, David and Samuel, were adopted from a Romanian orphanage in July 2000 by Mr and Mrs Briggs and taken to live in Portadown, Co Armagh.

By October David was dead. The initial post mortem carried out by Dr Curtis did not record a cause of death or mention the multiple fractures he had suffered.

After Samuel’s injuries were discovered less than a fortnight later, David’s body was exhumed and a further post mortem carried out at which the fractures were found.

The action against the pathologist was revealed as the British government published two reports into the tragic orphan’s case.

One, by the Department of Health and Social Services, reviewed its involvement in the case and the other by the Northern Ireland Office reviewed the workings of the State Pathologists Department.

The latter said the injuries to the dead twin happened while he was alive and were “clearly not accidental”.

A series of recommendations to tighten up on the care and monitoring of children, especially those adopted from overseas, and strengthen the procedures of the State Pathologist’s Department have been implemented.

Commenting on the reports, Angela Smith, Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, said what had happened to the twins was “unacceptable”.

“Mistakes were made and the system failed the children. The Departments and agencies involved in this tragic case have learnt important lessons about the need to protect and respect all of those who come under our care, whether in life or death,” said the minister.

She added: “What matters now is that we must ensure that such a personal tragedy never happens again.”

All the recommendations relating to the safety of children had been met in full, she said.

“There are now greater safeguards in place for children and better support for their new families.

"We also now have in place the best post placement support for inter country adoption anywhere in the UK.”

A full regional inspection of child protection services was due to start shortly, she said.

The first inspection, she had insisted, would take place in the Craigavon and Banbridge Trust which was charged with monitoring the orphans – and include its inter country adoption services.

In respect of the State Pathologist’s Department there were new and strengthened procedures which included joint working between forensic and paediatric pathologists and reviewing and reporting of x-rays by paediatric radiologists.

There was also now auditing of all cases involving infants and young children to ensure the highest quality of standards were maintained.

Ms Smith said: “We have now completed one of the most extensive investigations of its type in Northern Ireland to be certain that all the issues raised have been fully addressed to prevent such a tragedy occurring again.”

A heath visitor from the Craigavon and Banbridge Health Trust is currently the subject of a professional conduct hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in relation to the twins.

After three days of evidence in Belfast last month the case against Mrs Claire McDonnell, 64, was adjourned until later in the year.