Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Tory minister refuses to return Billy’s vital oil after mum’s plea
Medicinal cannabis seized at Heathrow
A CONSERVATIVE minister ordered the confiscation of medicinal cannabis oil from Charlotte Caldwell, bringing her son’s medical trial to a sudden and dangerous halt.
It was carried on to UK soil at Heathrow Airport by the Co Tyrone woman to treat Billy, 12, who suffers from severe epilepsy.
Charlotte met Policing Minister Nick Hurd twice, and each time asked him for the oil prescribed as part of a Canadian medical trial, to be returned to her so she could treat her child.
Each time he turned her down.
Each refusal, Charlotte said, represented another nail in her son’s coffin.
She added: “I welcomed the opportunity to have an honest and open meeting with Nick Hurd. I asked him to give Billy his anti epileptic medicine back, he said no.
“I have left it with him to come up with an urgent solution today. Now I’m praying for a miracle.
“This is Billy’s anti-epileptic medication that Nick Hurd has taken away, it’s not some sort of joint full of recreational cannabis.
“I will just go back to Canada and get more and I’ll bring it back because my son has a right to have his anti-epileptic medication in his country, in his own home.
“Let me tell you something now, we will not stop, we are not going to stop, we are not going to give up, we have love, hope, faith for our kids and we are going to continue.”
At lunchtime Charlotte said Billy was due his next dose at 3.30pm, and warned of the medical dangers of missing his first treatment in nearly 20 months.
The mum, who was joined by Sinn Fein West Tyrone MP Orfhlaith Begley, explained: “To suddenly stop the medication can result in very difficult side effects so coming off medicinal cannabis is done slowly and under medical supervision.
“What Nick Hurd has just done is most likely signed my son’s death warrant.”
Charlotte said she was stopped by Customs officers after flying into Heathrow following an overnight flight from Toronto.
She said: “One of the Customs men visibly welled up as the oil was confiscated.
“Nick Hurd should have come and got the oil himself if he wanted it confiscated”
Under British law, cannabis remains listed as a schedule one drug so it is not recognised as having a therapeutic value.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are sympathetic to the situation Billy and his family are faced with.
“While we recognise people with debilitating illnesses are looking to alleviate their symptoms, it is important medicines are thoroughly tested to ensure they meet rigorous standards so doctors and patients are assured of their quality and safety.”
What he has done is most likely signed my son’s death warrant CHARLOTTE CALDWELL LONDON YESTERDAY