Investigation into organ retention

An inquiry was launched by hospital

Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry has said it is to investigate an individual over the retention of human organs.

In January, the hospital apologised to the relatives of 59 people, whose organs were retained for long periods without their families' permission, after post mortem examinations.

Altnagelvin Hospital said 15 of the 59 people, whose organs were retained during the period 1992 to May 2000, were babies.

At the same time, the hospital, which provides pathology services to the whole of the west of Northern Ireland, announced a detailed inquiry into the matter.

Now that investigation has found all the organs came from the caseload of one pathologist, whose rate of retaining organs was much higher than that of other pathologists in Derry.

In a statement on Friday, the hospital said the organs were retained beyond "what may be considered a reasonable timescale".

And the inquiry also recommended an individual be formally investigated through what it called the "appropriate channels".

The hospital has declined to say what these channels are.