British police have been given permission by Bahamian officials to fly out to investigate the death of a two-year-old boy who was killed when a speedboat veered on to a beach and struck him, a family spokeswoman said today.
Paul Gallagher was dozing on a sun lounger during his family’s dream holiday at an exclusive beach resort in August 2002 when the boat flew through the air and hit him, leaving him with severe head injuries.
He was taken from the Atlantis Paradise Island resort to hospital, where he was given a 0.1% chance of survival and died as a result of his horrendous injuries after a five-day battle.
Paul’s family, of Orpington, Kent, have alleged the authorities in the Bahamas refused to carry out a full investigation into the tragedy.
After they wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair and met then Foreign Office Minister Baroness Symons asking for help, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service in the Bahamas has agreed to allow British police to visit the country and investigate, a family spokeswoman said today.
Claire Rowley, of Alexander Harris solicitors, said: ﾓThe Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs agreed to accept a visit by the British police to look at the case.
“This is a massive step for the family, something that they have been waiting for for a long time.
“Without this there was no chance of a police investigation.
“The only way for British police to go out to the Bahamas is (for) the Bahamas to invite the police over.”
She said that although the family has been in discussion with the Metropolitan Police, the force has not confirmed whether it intends to travel to the Bahamas to investigate the toddler’s death.
An inquest in the Bahamas in June 2003 concluded Paul died accidentally but a coroner at a British inquest held last year recorded an open verdict.
His parents, Andrea Gallagher, 39, and her husband Paul, 40, broke down in tears in October as they pleaded with the South London Coroner to order further investigations.
Ms Rowley added: “Paul’s family are distraught that noﾖ one has been held accountable for Paul’s death.”
By Anna Farley, PA
http://news.scotsman.com/
