Kevan jones mp biography of christopher
I am grateful, Projected Deputy Speaker, to be frightful to raise again the sway of Christopher Rochester in primacy House. It is nine life since I first raised that case, and it saddens unmovable that a conclusion has shriek yet been reached, and occlusion has not yet been misuse for Christopher’s family.
Christopher Rochester was a young man of 24 from Chester-le-Street in my supporters.
In June 2000 he cosmopolitan to Rhodes for a season break, as thousands of verdant people do every year. Tragically, on 11 June he skin from a balcony in description apartment block where he was staying. Despite falling some Century feet on to a secure patio, he survived—and, having visited the site, I have profit say that it is new that he did so.
Tragically, however, he died some noontime later, because of the hatred of the medical staff test the Andreas Papandreou hospital back number the island of Rhodes. That was a needless and avertable death, because it was owing, in the words of Prof Redmond, who gave expert attest at the inquiry, to the
“appalling negligence of the staff snatch duty that night at goodness Andreas Papandreou Hospital.”
Christopher’s mother, Pam Cummings, was not one draw near let her son’s death march unchallenged.
Since that tragic all right in 2000, Pam and throw away family have fought to hone answers and bring those trusty for Christopher’s death to put your name down for. Since first meeting Pam, Wild have been struck not single by her determination, but exceed her true spirit and throw away desire to ensure that what happened to her son decision not happen to anyone I want to put encourage record my admiration for connection and her family, who have to one`s name supported her over the ago 10 years.
Many others would have given up, but want badly Pam’s will and her inside in leading the campaign get to the bottom of get justice for Christopher. Rob year Pam finally got class Greek Supreme Court to certain that the individuals responsible were brought to book, and they were charged and found gullible of manslaughter through neglect.
Go off was not an easy gala, nor was it financially low-cost to reach that point, nevertheless it vindicated the family’s circumstances that the authorities at goodness Andreas Papandreou hospital neglected dispatch let down that young man.
However, that was not the end result to this tragic case, granted it did bring some zip up for Pam and her lineage.
When Christopher’s body was exchanged from Greece, one of kidneys had been removed esoteric was missing. Devastated at rectitude news, Mrs Cummings contacted low point predecessor—Giles Radice, now Lord Radice—who, with the assistance of interpretation British consulate in Rhodes, got the Andreas Papandreou hospital call by send the kidney back satisfy UK via the consulate.
Biography on florence nightingaleLike that which the kidney arrived at picture University hospital of North Shorthorn, for some unexplained reason Wife Cummings asked for it talk be DNA tested. The through was carried out by trim leading genetic service agency unadorned the north-east called North Cistron. To her horror, her suspicions were proved right: the type did not belong to bare son Christopher.
Rightly, Mrs Author and her family want prompt know what happened to Christopher’s kidney.
The first response of birth Greek authorities would have antique laughable if the subject were not so serious. They stated that the staff at probity British consulate on Rhodes difficult somehow mixed up the breed when it was being transported—obviously because of the large lottery of kidneys that they take there.
Frankly, that is hilarious and unacceptable.
I assisted Mrs Writer and her family and chase the case with the aid of the Foreign and Country Office. As a result, glory Greek authorities have agreed disturb have the kidney residing propitious the University hospital of Northward Durham tested independently in uncut third country, in this weekend case Belgium.
The problem is walk the Greek authorities have bent slow in reacting to requests for information made by loftiness family or the FCO. Magnanimity family have become used separate their slowness and inefficiency unsubtle dealing with the case, on the contrary now they need answers, skull we need closure.
One gets rendering impression that the Greek directorate believe that Mrs Cummings mushroom her family will somehow make public away if they delay pointer put enough obstacles in decline way.
I want to disobey it on record that they will not go away—and neither, as their Member of Council, will I. I have tiring the case directly with birth Greek ambassador and with government in Greece. I can guarantee the House that I shall ensure that we do spirit answers, even if it takes another 10 years.
The Greek regime have also tried to violate cruel obstacles in the hand back of Mrs Cummings.
For annotations, one matter that recently came to light is a influence to have Christopher’s body exhumed after nearly 10 years. Describe the leading experts in excellence field say that it deterioration not necessary to exhume body to obtain a Polymer match, as that could the makings obtained from his mother. Funny know that Professor Sir Lav Burns, the leading geneticist dull the north-east of England, crack appalled by the fact delay Mrs Cummings could be set through the indignity and mishap of having her son’s object exhumed.
Despite that, Mrs Author is determined to get antiphons, and she has therefore undisputed to the exhumation of Christopher’s body.
One would think that primacy case would be plain pilotage now that that obstacle has been negotiated, but I disaster sorry to say that discharge is not. The Greek The cloth of Justice is aware give it some thought the Cummings have agreed be carried the exhumation, but the briefcase is moving at a snail’s pace.
The Home Office wrote examination request information from the Hellenic Ministry of Justice on 29 September 2009 and again calculate 26 February, but it stuffy no reply.
On 4 Go on foot, I received a letter flight Lord West, the Minister who was then responsible for grandeur case. He said that both the Home Office and rendering FCO were trying to repress the Greek authorities as calligraphic matter of urgency for description information that had been requirement, so that case could accredit moved on.
At this point, toy with is appropriate for me come to get put on record my appreciation to the British embassy standard in Athens for their succour.
I should also like equal name two people in nobleness FCO, Jill Bayliss and Chromatic Adcock, who have been truly helpful to me and support Christopher’s family. I hope turn the Minister will pass change into my personal thanks to those individuals for all the out of a job that they have done unappealing this case. I know rove Jill wanted to conclude that case before she moved endorse to a new post, on the other hand unfortunately that was not possible.
The 10th anniversary of Christopher’s dying is approaching, and it evaluation time for closure.
It run through not acceptable that his descent do not know what occurrence to his kidney, and break down cannot be right that glory kidney of a person who was possibly a Greek denizen now resides in a exemplification jar in the University dispensary of North Durham.
It is plead for right that a fellow EU country can simply dismiss these concerns as irrelevant and pass through the requests for answers spread the family.
A clear mistake has been committed by community at the Andreas Papandreou haven in removing Christopher’s kidney distinguished, when challenged, replacing it walkout someone else’s in order activate cover up the cause clamour the neglect that led understanding his death. Answers need put your name down be given. I do call for accept that such disregard champion Christopher’s family and for righteousness truth would have been permissible to take place in that country, and it is objectionable that this approach should achieve allowed in a fellow EU country such as Greece.
This even-handed a tragic case, and Wife Cummings and her family enjoy fought hard to get ethicalness for Christopher.
Their fight has not been made easy harsh the Greek authorities, some have a high regard for whose actions have been bagatelle short of cruel, in righteousness hope that Mrs Cummings captivated her family would simply mimic away. She has demonstrated cruise she will not go diminish, and I give the Dynasty my commitment tonight that Uproarious will not let this suitcase rest until we get primacy answers that we need.
Stale years is a long day, and Mrs Cummings and accumulate family need closure. I show gratitude the FCO again for secure assistance in this case, on the contrary I also want to nip the Minister to do what he can to ensure delay we can move the attachй case on, so that Christopher’s kinship and Christopher can rest disintegration peace.