Cult accused over deaths of 191 children
Toddler had reconstructive surgery on oesophagus after a ‘nightmare’ ordeal
Paul Mackenzie
DOOMSDAY cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 30 of his followers were in court yesterday to face charges of murdering 191 children.
The suspects did not enter pleas because Judge Mugure Thand allowed them to undergo mental assessments and return to Kenya’s High Court on February 6.
Mackenzie and some followers are accused over the deaths of 429 members of his Good News International Church.
Many are believed to have starved themselves in the belief they would meet Jesus Christ before the world ends.
The cultists were arrested in April after bodies were discovered in dozens of shallow graves in the coastal county of Kilifi.
A BOY who swallowed a battery has been awarded ¤220,000 damages over his medical care.
Aaron Sikorski was only 13-monthsold when the incident happened while he was playing at home.
The High Court heard days before a chest X-ray was carried out despite visits to his GP and the A&E of Galway University Hospital.
His counsel Damien Higgins SC told the court the battery was a common circular battery used in watches and calculators.
It can react with saliva causing a chemical reaction which burns through the oesophagus.
Medical help should be sought within 48 hours, counsel said. Mr Higgins said the boy ended up having to have an emergency operation to extract
it was nine the battery and reconstructive surgery on his oesophagus.
He remained in hospital for three weeks having spent time in intensive care. Counsel said it was their case that the GP should have suspected the boy swallowed a battery and the hospital should have carried out an X-ray earlier.
Aaron, now six, from Tuam, Co Galway, had through his mother Marlena Sikorski sued the HSE over the care received at GUH and GP Maire Mcgarry of Tuam Family Practice, Co Galway in 2018.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told the HSE admitted a breach of duty in the case but causation was still at issue.
GP Dr Maire Mcgarry denied all claims and the settlement was without an admission of liability by the doctor. As part of the settlement an apology to the boy’s mother was read to the court on behalf of both defendants.
It said: “We would like to offer you our sincere apologies for the treatment that Aaron received from us in 2018. We regret the distress and anxiety which you and your family have experienced.”
“We sincerely wish you and your family all the best for the future.”
REMOVED
In the proceedings it was claimed Aaron became unwell at home on July 25, 2018. He had been playing near a drawer where batteries were kept.
He started coughing and became quite distressed and he also vomited.
His mother took him to the GP medical centre but it was claimed the possibility of an ingested or inhaled foreign body was allegedly dismissed and there was not a referral to hospital.
The next day it was claimed that the child was reviewed by the GP and it was claimed that his mother mentioned her fear he had swallowed a battery. The next day, July 27, Aaron was brought to the A&E department of Galway University Hospital. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to take a proper history and to arrange a chest X-ray.
On August 3, the child was referred to the hospital by his GP.
Following a review he was found to have a wheeze and a chest X-ray showed a foreign body. He was taken for emergency surgery and the battery removed.
Approving the settlement Mr Justice Coffey said the offer was fair and reasonable. Outside the court the family said in a statement that what happened was “every parent’s worst nightmare”.
They said: “A simple X-ray would have confirmed [the battery] but the opportunities to arrange one were missed.
“All the while, the battery was leaking and corroding Aaron’s throat. Simply put, had Marlena been listened to, Aaron would not have suffered these horrific injuries.”
Aaron would not have suffered horrific injuries
BOY’S FAMILY ON MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR X-RAY