Daughter Of NI's First Covid Victim To Speak At Inquiry

The daughter of Northern Ireland's first Covid-19 victim is set to appear before the UK Covid inquiry.

Brenda Doherty represents Bereaved Families for Justice in Northern Ireland. Other members of the public will appear before the inquiry on 18 July to represent victims from the rest of the home nations.

Brenda Doherty's Mother, Ruth Burke was 82 when she became the first woman in Northern Ireland to die from Covid-19.

She became infected with Covid-19 after being admitted to hospital. Her family were unable to be by her side when she died. The family also had to watch Ruth's burial from afar due to restrictions in place at the time.

The Covid-19 inquiry is chaired by the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Carol Hallett DBE. It has already heard evidence from Northern Ireland's political leadership at the time of the pandemic, with Baroness Foster and Michelle O'Neil giving evidence.

Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride has also provided evidence to the inquiry. He claimed that the absence of Stormont ministers in the three years before the pandemic had a "significant impact" on preparedness.