By Kathryn Torney
The Detail can reveal that John Larkin QC issued the directive to senior coroner John Leckey and he also stressed that the case is of “enormous public importance”.
Christopher Coulter, from Hillsborough, was found dead in his bed a week before Christmas in 1994, 10 days after receiving the combined Measles/Rubella (MR) vaccine at school.
Christopher’s parents Anne and Harry have always believed that the vaccine played a part in their son’s death but the original inquest in 1995 concluded that he died from an epileptic fit – even though there is no history of epilepsy in the family. Mr Leckey conducted the first inquest.
After Christopher’s funeral, Anne learnt that another pupil from Wallace High School had also suffered a serious seizure after receiving a vaccine from the same batch as Christopher. He survived. This cemented her initial concern that the vaccine may have been to blame.
In the last 17 years, the Coulters have contacted departments, politicians from all parties, medical experts, ombudsmen and even the Prime Minister.
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