Editorial: Family's immense dignity in face of wait for Roy Butler inquest verdict

The family of Roy Butler, who died aged 23, days after getting the Covid-19 vaccine, have waited more than three years to learn the truth of their son's death.

At every stage they have had to place their trust in the medical and pharmaceutical professionals that their son's best interests are being served, including in death.

The inquest evidence told of the harrowing last days of Roy's life. Text messages he sent to friends, and the heart-rending evidence of his own parents, tell of how seriously ill this young man became so rapidly.

He had gotten the vaccine, like so many thousands of people from Waterford, in the hope of moving forward with his plans to enjoy a holiday in Dubai. It was a perfectly normal, human decision to make - and one that so many of us took, on trust.

It is incredibly difficult to hear numbers in the millions of those for whom the vaccine had no repercussions. For the Butler family all that really matters is their son's story. It would be the same for anyone in similar circumstances.

The small numbers are real people, real lived experiences, real heartbreak. 

In this case, it is absolute devastation for the Butler family from the O'Reilly Road on Waterford's Cork Road.

The photos of Roy reflect a young man so full of life, energy and vitality. 

As his mother describes, he was a "perfectly healthy young boy" before the vaccine. "He was perfect, he got this injection, then he wasn't perfect."

Ciara Davin, BL, barrister for Roy's family has called for a verdict of misadventure. She said that on the balance of probabilities Mr Butler's intracerebral haemorrhage was caused by the vaccine.

"All I'm asking is to apply common sense. There was a link between him getting vaccinated and suffering a catastrophic brain bleed."

The Coroner's Court in Cork saw numerous witnesses give evidence, all experts in their fields, from Johnson and Johnson, the pathologst, those medical professionals who looked after Roy, and others.

The evidence was detailed and complex, as referred to by Coroner Philip Comyn, who will deliver his verdict later this week.

Our thoughts are with Roy Butler's family and friends at this time. None of them would have wanted to be enduring this nightmare. They have waited with such dignity throughout the past number of years to allow due process take place.

All that can be hoped for is that, as it finally reaches its conclusion, the truth of Roy's death, in the fullest way possible, can be broached and recorded. 

Perhaps that truth will always remain in the words Roy shared directly to his family and with his friends. 

He was his own best advocate, and his inquest, if anything, by recording that for all time has at least honoured his voice.

He may not have understood what was happening to him - the responsibility to explain why remains with the experts, who we would like to think would have the answers three years on.