Father criticises health board over research results
ABEREAVED father whose son died five years ago has strongly criticised a health board for failing to disclose to him the results of genetic research that could have cast light on the tragedy.
Michael O’Brien, who spent 11 years in jail for a murder he did not commit, has set up the Dylan O’Brien Foundation in memory of his son, who was two at the time he passed away.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board accepted liability for Dylan’s death, which occurred in June 2012, after he had waited more than nine months for a key medical assessment.
This week Mr O’Brien, who lives with his wife Claire in Cardiff, wrote a letter to the health board, stating: “We took part in a so-called DD Study to determine what disease Dylan may have had.
“This was over five years ago yet no results either way have come back.
“Personally I find this unacceptable and feel we have been left dangling on a string.
“We have given you every opportunity to respond to this DD study yet it appears we are completely ignored on this issue.
“We have a right to know what our son died of, and until we get some answers I’m afraid my son’s charity cannot and will not support Cardiff and Vale health board and will not supply any more life-saving equipment until this matter has been addressed.”
Mr O’Brien and his wife Claire have organised many fundraising events and the proceeds have been used to buy equipment for children’s wards in hospitals.
He said: “I was asked to do two TV programmes last year which would have shown UHW [the University Hospital of Wales, run by Cardiff and Vale health board] in a bad light and I refused to take part in these programmes because we wanted to work constructively with you to make things better.
“I obviously made the wrong decision.
“I will be contacting the media over the DD study which was a waste of time.
“I want to put it on record that I do not trust anyone in the UK to test what tissue is left of Dylan’s and we will be approaching the Mayo Clinic in America to carry out subsequent tests.
“We will find out why our son died without your help.”
A spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board responded: “We were somewhat surprised and disappointed to receive the email from Mr O’Brien on December 28, 2017.
“Over the past five years the health board has supported and worked with Mr and Mrs O’Brien. We have been grateful for the kind donations made by their charity to the health board on two occasions.
“We contacted Mr O’Brien immediately to advise him that we will make inquiries with our genetics department to clarify if there is any further testing available.
“The health board has previously accepted liability in this extremely sad case and litigation has been completed.
“The chief executive advised the family in 2014 that unfortunately many genetic conditions can remain undiagnosed and despite extensive internal and external testing we have been unable to identify a definitive diagnosis for Dylan’s suspected underlying genetic condition.
“It is appreciated that the lack of a definitive diagnosis remains a cause of concern and distress for the family.”
Mr O’Brien was convicted with two others in 1988 of murdering Cardiff newsagent Phillip Saunders the previous year but their convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal in 1999.