Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Sinn Fein MP defiant after gun attack at party office
for a successful transplant. For many young children, their only hope is to receive one from another young child.
“Losing a child is a tragedy, but we know many parents take comfort in saving lives through organ donation.
“There are many children alive today thanks to parents making that decision.
“But sadly, hundreds of adults and children die every year due to the shortage of donated organs. We urge people to join the NHS Donor Register.”
South Shields Labour MP Emma Lewell-buck highlighted Carter’s case in the Commons on Wednesday. In response, Theresa May spoke about the new opt-out organ donation system, due to come in next year.
It will be named Max and Keira’s Law in honour of Mirror campaign boy Max Johnson, 10, and his heart donor Keira Ball, nine. Her dad Joe and mum Loanna decided to pass on her organs when she died after a car accident near her home at Barnstaple, Devon, in July 2017.
The move helped to save or transform the lives of four others.
Her parents set up the charity Inspired by Keira, which give aid to sick children and their families.
Joe and Loanna played a key role in getting Geoffrey Robinson MP’S private members’ bill through Parliament after the Mirror told their story last February, just days before the vote on passing it into law.
The law was due to go forward for royal assent before Christmas. Two suggested amendments mean it will now go before the Lords again within weeks.
Health Minister Jackie Doyle-price said: “I am four-square behind this, along with Theresa May.
“We will work on those amendments though we know the timetable is tight.
“If there are any problems in this session, we will find a way of dealing with it. I am not going to let anything stand in its way now.”
Dan Jarvis, the Labour MP who helped guide the bill through the Commons, praised the Government’s decision to name it Max and Keira’s Law.
He said: “This Bill will save lives and give hope to the thousands around our country who are desperately waiting for an organ transplant.”
There will be a £20million Department of Health publicity drive to explain what the law will mean once it is in place.
There are currently 6,096 people on the active transplant waiting list, including 187 children. AN MP has said Sinn Fein will not be deterred from constituency work after shots were fired at a party office.
Bullet casings were found outside the building in West Belfast on Monday.
It is understood CCTV revealed shots were fired at the Turf Lodge office by a gunman on January 3.
The building was also targeted in a similar incident in October.
Paul Maskey called for the attacks to stop.
He said: “We will not be deterred from the work we do. People said they are disgusted by these attacks.”
Sinn Fein’s headquarters on the Falls Road were damaged by aronists last August.
Former Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams was targeted when an explosive device was thrown at his home the previous month.
Party activist Bobby Storey was also targeted on the same night.
The PSNI hit out at the latest incident in Monagh Crescent.
Det St Sam Mccallum said: “Someone could easily have been injured, or worse, by a stray bullet.”