Public welcome at baby's funeral

Ruth Winston-Jones took Luke's case to the High Court

The mother of a nine-month-old boy who died last week after a high-profile "right to life" legal case has said his funeral will be open to the public.

Luke Winston-Jones, who was terminally ill with heart and breathing problems, died early on Friday morning.

His mother Ruth Winston-Jones said "a celebratory service" would be held at Aberffraw on Anglesey on Saturday.

Last month, Luke was at the centre of a High Court battle between Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital and his family.

The two sides had disagreed about the care Luke would receive if his condition worsened.

Medical experts had been concerned about the effects of further "aggressive" treatment, but Ms Winston-Jones did not want any treatments ruled out in advance.

Luke was born in January in Bangor's Ysbyty Gwynedd

The High Court ruled that doctors could withhold mechanical ventilation, but, in a last-minute concession, decided he could still have the chance to receive cardiac massage.

Ms Winston-Jones said that people who had followed Luke's case would be welcome at Saturday's funeral, which starts at 1200 GMT.

"We are having a celebratory service," she said.

"Anyone who loved Luke, who followed his story and respected and believed in Luke can come and celebrate Luke's life."

Shortly after Luke's death, his family demanded an inquiry into the care he was given at Alder Hey hospital in the hours before he died.

A trust spokesman said Luke's condition had "significantly deteriorated" and "extensive resuscitation" had proved unsuccessful.

In response to the family's call for an inquiry, a spokesperson for Alder Hey hospital said it could not respond to specific allegations, but "refutes allegations that Luke did not receive the best care and attention at Alder Hey."

Luke's case was the focus of media attention

Luke, who had the rare Edwards Syndrome, died at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool - he had never left hospital.

Few babies who are born with the condition, which severely affects most organs of the body, survive beyond a year.

Luke was born by emergency Caesarean at a Bangor hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd, on 30 January.

Due to his serious cardiac defects, including two holes in the heart, he was then moved to Alder Hey.

Luke's case went to the High Court only two weeks after a judge ruled that another seriously ill baby, Charlotte Wyatt, should not be given aggressive treatment but should be allowed to die peacefully.