'The agony goes on and on'

A YEAR since a new investigation by the Coroner and the PSNI began into the death of an Antrim woman, her parents have called for more movement in the case.

In 2021, Katie Ryder (25) was found deceased in her bed at a care home in the borough - where she had been spending one week out of four, to give her parents Paula and Dermod respite.

The Antrim Guardian understand that ownership of the home at the centre of the probe changed hands late last year.

Katie had been born with a rare chromosomal abnormality, causing her to have both profound Autism and Epilepsy.

These conditions brought with them a series of health problems, including the fact she would have Drop Seizures - suddenly falling with no warning.

Katie died on January 31 2021 and the PSNI attended the care home on February 3 to collect relevant records. At that time, no further police action was taken.

The inquest was due to begin last June - but there was a dramatic halt to proceedings, when an emergency hearing was called in Belfast.

There, Counsel for the Coroner Louisa Fee informed all parties that there had been an ‘unexpected development’, in that a witness due to give evidence had supplied a new information, which would require further investigation from the Coroner ‘and potentially also the PSNI’.

The Coroner said that it was ‘disappointing’ that the new evidence had come at such a late stage and apologised to the Ryders.

The couple said that they understood that the inquest would have to be adjourned, but Mrs Ryder described the news as ‘harrowing’.

Ms Fee said that her role was to ‘investigate Katie’s death as thoroughly as possible’ and therefore more time was needed to accommodate the further investigations.

The Coroner asked two PSNI representatives, including the Senior Investigating Officer, about a timescale for collecting new statements from witnesses and how long an overall investigation could take.

One of the officers confirmed that the witness had come forward a week previous and that they immediately forwarded the new information to the Coroner’s office.

The officer said that it would take a week per witness, but that an over-arching timescale to complete a further investigation could not be given.

The Coroner recommended that all parties reconvene in September 2024 to allow further investigations to take place.

The Antrim Guardian understands that a year later, files on the case are now with the Public Prosecution Service.

In a statement to the Antrim Guardian, the Ryders said: “This prolonged investigation is very wearing on us and everybody who knew Katie.

“People forget and think it’s all over – done and dusted. Most don’t realise that the agony for us goes on and on and the look of horror and incredulity on people’s faces when we tell them of the current state of affairs is unbelievable.

“We have asked the PSNI to get the PPS to prioritise this case.”