On his first visit of the day in the national park, the prince chatted with farmers from across Swaledale at Adam and Leanne Hunter’s family farm, near Muker, to learn about their experiences on multi-generational farms, opportunities and challenges shaping modern farming and how they had diversified, transforming their roadside stone barn into a bunkhouse.

Offering the farmers first choice of some cakes he had bought at a cafe en route to the engagement, the prince said he would avoid what he described as the “Twix mountain of calorie grenade” as it would result in him having to do a lot of exercise to work it off.

The Prince of Wales passes round a selection of cake during a visit to Crow Tree Farm, a family farm in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to hear about multi-generational farms and the opportunities and challenges shaping modern farming today (Image: owen humphreys)

He said: “I’ve been to Yorkshire quite a few times and this dale I know reasonably well, but it’s always nice to come up at different times of the year. You see the country changing so much.”

The prince then asked whether the Tour de France Grand Depart he attended in 2014, that passed by the farm, had left a legacy.

He was told while thousands of people visited nearby Muker to see the meadows, Muker farmer Philip Metcalfe said he had invested money raised from 18 fields of campers into a new shower block.

Mr Metcalfe said: “Since then it’s snowballed. We get a lot of people on return visits saying they saw it on the telly.”

Mr Hunter told the prince: “And now with social media that’s keeping the area on the map. It was James Herriot originally.”

It was not long before the prince steered the conversation towards farming and mental health.

He said: “People forget how much time you have to spend on the farm. If you’re not careful you could spend weeks, months without even going off the farm at all.

“Sometimes the remoteness of the job gets forgotten about. Once you get into that rut, that isolated cycle, it’s very hard to come out of it.

“Internally you are a bit like I’ve lost touch, I don’t want to do that, I want to do more work and before you know it you are completely cut off.”

The Prince of Wales speaks to Adam Hunter (right), owner of Crow Tree Farm, during a visit to the family farm in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to hear about multi-generational farms and the opportunities and challenges shaping modern farming today (Image: owen humphreys)

The farmers told the prince how the Upper Swaledale community was “close-knit”, spending time on each other’s farms to complete labour-intensive jobs such as drystone walling and that they would regularly meet in the pub for a chat and game of darts.

“We’ve got a pretty good close-knit community in our dale,” Mr Hunter said.

“The fact that you are all helping each other out makes such a difference,” William said. “I worry about the farmers who don’t have support around them. You just get very much in the moment of your problems and can’t see your way out of it.”

The farmers added they had launched a social media group chat which regularly featured a competition over who is having the worst day.

The Prince of Wales talks with Adam Hunter (second right), owner of Crow Tree Farm, and farmers from across Swaledale during a visit to the family farm in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to hear about multi-generational farms and the opportunities and challenges shaping modern farming today (Image: owen humphreys)

Mr Hunter said: “In farming you sometimes think it’s just you having a problem, but there’s always somebody else who’s having the same problem or worse.”

Asked whether they felt positive about farming, the group told the prince they were optimistic, but facing uncertainty on a number of fronts, particularly following the loss of the Basic Payment Scheme, which is being phased out.

Mr Hunter said: “Unfortunately most farms up here now need some sort of other income to support the farm.”

The prince responded: “The hard thing is you’ve got to be farmers, accountants, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, you’ve got a lot on your plate at the moment. Do you feel that pressure?”

Mr Hunter said: “We’re farmers at heart, that’s what we really want to be doing. It’s all the other stuff that you have to you have to learn to do.”

James Metcalfe, 23, told the prince he was more hopeful for a bright future for farming than his father, Philip.

The Prince of Wales during a visit to Crow Tree Farm, a family farm in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to hear about multi-generational farms and the opportunities and challenges shaping modern farming today (Image: owen humphreys)

Philip Metcalfe said: “The reason I am sceptical is because I think we have just come out of the golden age of agriculture.”

The farmers told the prince they were feeling the loss of the Single Farm Payment and the abrupt closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive to new applicants had hit them hard as they needed to plan years ahead.

The group told the prince they feared they could be the last generation to farm the dale, but “at the moment that could be a possibility”. 

Mr Hunter said: “On our hill farm our accountant said the BPS is your profit figure and it isn’t there now. It’s a subsidy to keep us here. We want to look after this landscape. We’re proud of where we live.”  

The company has announced that it will be shutting the doors to its Teesside Park store on Thursday, May 14, after just less than ten years. 

The store is the final Charles Clinkard shop on Teesside following the closures of its original Middlesbrough shop on Corporation Road and the Redcar branch in 2024. 

A statement confirming the Teesside Park closure on its website states: “We regret to announce that our Teesside Park store will be permanently closing Thursday, May 14. 

Charles Clinkard at Teesside Park (Image: GOOGLE)

“We would like to sincerely thank all our customers for their support and custom over the years.”

The reason behind the closure has not yet been confirmed. 

This means that there will no longer be a Charles Clinkard shop on Teesside, with the nearest now being Darlington and Northallerton. 

The first Charles Clinkard was opened by Charles and Eveline Clinkard in 1924 in Middlesbrough, with the Redcar store following in 1959. 

The Middlesbrough store closure came as a huge blow to shoppers in 2024, with the firm saying it was “responding to shifts in the North East high street” as the reason behind the call. 

The firm’s 4,500sq ft Teesside Park branch was opened in 2014 following a huge £300,000 refit of the closed HMV store. 

Former managing director Colin Clinkard, whose parents opened the first Charles Clinkard in 1924, cut the ribbon on the site, which delivered 20 new jobs.

Shoppers have already voiced their disappointment over the closure.

One person said: “Shame. They have nice shoes and bags, and shoe shops are few these days.”

For funeral directors, being visible at that moment has never been more important – yet many are finding it harder than ever to stand out online.

To support funeral directors through these changes, LOCALiQ UK is hosting a free 45‑minute online seminar designed specifically for the funeral profession called Increase Your Google Visibility: Five Easy Wins for Funeral Directors. 

The session will take place at 12 pm on Thursday, May 7, and you can sign up for it on the LOCALiQ website.

Brandon Griffin, Head of B2B Marketing at LOCALiQ UK, and Sarah Harvey, Sales Excellence Manager, will be hosting the seminar (Image: LOCALiQ)

It will explore how changes in local search, reviews and online trust signals are affecting funeral businesses and, crucially, what practical steps can be taken to improve visibility without technical expertise.

The seminar is hosted by Brandon Griffin, Head of B2B Marketing at LOCALiQ UK, and Sarah Harvey, Sales Excellence Manager, who works closely with independent funeral directors across the UK.

Together, they will share real‑world examples and simple actions that can make a meaningful difference locally. 

Rather than focusing on complex marketing jargon, the webinar centres around five easy wins — practical improvements that funeral directors can realistically implement alongside their day‑to‑day responsibilities.

These include getting more value from Google Business Profiles, building trust through reviews, ensuring websites clearly reflect services offered, and strengthening local authority signals that search engines now prioritise.

Importantly, the session also addresses a concern many funeral directors are quietly expressing: “Nothing has changed — but something feels different.” 

Families are still searching, but how and where those searches are surfaced has evolved.

Understanding those shifts can help protect call volumes and enquiries now, not months down the line. 

The webinar is free to attend, lasts just 45 minutes, and is designed to leave attendees with clear takeaways they can act on immediately.

LOCALiQ won Standout SEO Agency of the Year at the 2026 UK Digital Excellence Awards. 

Reuben Owen and his girlfriend Jessica Ellwood have been together since October 2024 and are starring in the new series of Life in the Dales on Channel 5

Reuben Owen and girlfriend Jessica Ellwood are back on our screens for another series of Life In The Dales.

The Channel 5 show chronicles the young farmer’s journey through the ups and downs of managing a machinery business at Ravenseat, the sprawling 2,000-acre family farm in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, where he honed his skills under the guidance of his parents, Clive and Amanda Owen.

Reuben, 22, first captured the nation’s hearts on Our Yorkshire Farm before Life In The Dales launched in 2024.

Beyond showcasing his farming exploits, he regularly offers fans a peek into his personal life with Jessica.

Jessica herself comes from a farming background, working on her parents’ Brough Castle farm, which houses hundreds of animals, reports the Express.

The couple got together in October 2024, and have since shared some loved-up posts on social media, marking Valentine’s Day, their anniversary and spending Christmas together.

They met at a young farmers’ convention, with Jessica later sharing on the show: “Ever since we first met, we just clicked. I think it’s because I’m from a farming background, so’s Reuben.”

She added: “I just love him to bits. Love his family, get on great with them.”

Reuben meanwhile told OK magazine: “It took me a while to ask her out, I wasn’t that brave but I just asked her one night, we went out for some tea one night and I’d lost my wallet and she had to pay for my dinner!”

In a previous interview with The Mirror, Reuben shared how his family reacted to Jessica, saying: “Mum and Jess get on well, they talk about sheep together, they all approve and they all get along really well.”

The couple are also planning on moving in together soon, as he added: “We’re just waiting for something to come up. I’ve got to try and get a nice place, get a bit of a farm somewhere one day.

“It would be ideal to have a farm where I can park my diggers and she can have her sheep and cows.”

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When probed on the prospect of starting a family, referencing his parents’ large brood, he quipped: “I don’t think I fancy nine of them, I don’t fancy nine at all. We’ll have to wait and see.”

In a 2023 article for Farmers Guardian, Jessica, then 18, spoke about growing up on Brough Castle Farm in Cumbria.

She said: “Farming is in my blood: I grew up on Brough Castle Farm and remember helping my mum and dad in the fields from a young age. Since then, it is all I have ever wanted to do.

“I am now working full-time alongside my dad and taking on more responsibilities for different parts of the farm, which is really exciting. I have always loved working with animals too, particularly cows and sheep; they have their own personalities and I feel like I know them all. Because I have grown up with them since I was very little, I see all the animals as part of our family.”

Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales airs Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 5.

Paul Page has also spent time in prison after admitting making indecent images of children

A former British soldier who stockpiled more than 600 weapons in his “man cave” after developing a fascination for Nazi Germany has been jailed for six years. Paul Page, 52, a convicted paedophile, collected landmines, grenades, rifles, ammunition, and chemicals in a shed he also described as a “personal museum” .

Page, of Littleport, admitted a string of terrorism, explosives, and firearms charges. He was jailed at the Old Bailey for six years with a further year on extended licence.

During sentencing on Tuesday, May 5, Judge Richard Marks KC said Page had an “obsession with weapons and tools”. He also said Page was capable of repairing and making firearms, ammunition, and functioning explosives.

Even though Page said he kept the stash under lock and key, the judge said it was in a residential area and potentially within reach of children if he was not “100% vigilant”. Had the shed been burgled and the items got into the wrong hands, “the consequences could have been very serious”, the judge added.

Judge Marks also noted Page’s post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and history of sexual offending in the United States and UK. The defendant had been monitored by dedicated officers after he was previously convicted of child abuse in the US in 2006.

The weapons offences emerged after a separate investigation by Cambridgeshire Police into reports that Page had downloaded child abuse images in 2023. Officers uncovered more than 250 illegal images on Page’s devices.

In August 2023, he was jailed for 20 months after admitting three charges of making indecent images of children. During a search of his home in May 2023, officers had also discovered a hoard of Nazi flags, Second World War weapons, and chemicals in an outbuilding.

It led to a separate investigation by Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (Ersou). Counter-terrorism officers found that Page had more than 600 weapons and other military items linked to Nazi activity during the Second World War.

Police said that although much of this was legal memorabilia, he was in possession of prohibited items including landmines, grenades, rifles, and ammunition. A book was seized containing instructions on how to produce a sub-machine gun.

Component parts of firearms, bullet casings, and shells were recovered. There were also several chemicals that, if combined, were precursor materials useful for the manufacture of explosives. Page had also downloaded a banned document containing instructions to make viable explosives.

In interview, Page had denied holding an extreme right-wing mindset, despite having an email address which referenced numbers associated with Adolf Hitler and a tattoo linked to white supremacy, police said. He described the outbuilding as his “man cave” and “personal museum”, saying he had a deep fascination with anything military.

Bethan David, head of counter terrorism for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Paul Page stockpiled weaponry, chemicals and ammunition in a shed at his family home. He had previously manufactured explosive powder and admitted to an obsession with weapons. The seriousness of his offending has been reflected in the sentence passed down today.”

Page pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a document or record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism; two counts of possessing an explosive substance; four counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate; two counts related to the possession of a prohibited firearm; possession of prohibited ammunition; and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

Daniel Simpson told a jury that he was not aware of what was going to happen before the car he was in was rammed into a parked VW Passat.

Teesside Crown Court has watched harrowing CCTV footage of the four accused males jumping out of their black Chevrolet 4×4 and attack the occupants of the VW with machetes and a BB gun.

The 32-year-old told the court: “I didn’t know that was about to go on. If I knew that was going to go on, I would have gotten out of the car.”

Anthony Lee Dickons (Image: Cleveland Police)

Anthony Dickons was fatally injured when he was slashed with a machete in a car park on Orme Court, Middlesbrough, on November 6, last year.

The security footage captured the defendants block in the car before they all rushed out of the vehicle and launched what the prosecution say is a “ferocious” attack while someone was shouting ‘where’s the f****** gear?’.

During cross examination, John Elvidge KC, prosecuting, asked Simpson why he got out of the car ahead of the attack, Simpson said: “I made a stupid decision to get out of the car.

“There was no purpose to me getting out of the car, I shouldn’t have even been involved in it.”

The defendant claimed he was told to get out of the car, but said he didn’t go there to support them or help them and didn’t realise what was going to happen as he was ‘too busy sniffing coke in the back of the car’.

He said he was simply ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’.

Orme Court, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough (Image: Google)

Morgan Caldwell has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Anthony Dickons and causing grievous bodily harm to a second man, Stephen Law, during the violent attack.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service rejected the 26-year-old’s plea, and he remains on trial for murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, to Mr Law.

Caldwell and Simpson travelled to Scotland, and days later they boarded an early ferry to Belfast, in Northern Ireland, where they were arrested on November 11.

The court heard how Simpson made a number of internet searches on his phone, including ‘cheap flights to Dubai’ and ‘non-extradition countries’.

Simpson, 32, of Coledale Road, Berwick Hills, 24-year-old Dominic Hall, of Greencroft Walk, 26-year-old Caldwell, of Cannock Road and the teenager, all of Middlesbrough, deny the murder of 44-year-old Mr Dickons.

They also deny a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against Mr Law.

The trial continues.

Hearts’ comeback win over Rangers has put them in pole position to end 40 years of Old Firm dominance in the Scottish Premiership title race, but Celtic boss Martin O’Neill knows it’s no longer in his hands

Martin O’Neill has admitted that Rangers are virtually out of the title race – and recognises that even his own side’s destiny is no longer in their control.

Hearts’ dramatic comeback win at Tynecastle yesterday moved the Jambos three points clear of Celtic at the summit of the Premiership, and has essentially extinguished Rangers’ championship ambitions.

The Ibrox outfit now trail by seven points with just three matches remaining and face a trip to Parkhead next weekend where they could potentially hand Hearts a massive favour.

Hearts are aware that two victories from their remaining two fixtures will be sufficient to break 40 years of Old Firm supremacy if the Hoops slip up in either of their next two outings.

O’Neill observed events from Gorgie and wasn’t cheering Lawrence Shankland’s match-winner – as a stalemate would have been the optimal outcome for his side, reports the Daily Record.

However, he acknowledges it’s an even bigger blow for Rangers, whose aspirations now hang by the thinnest of margins.

Speaking on talkSPORT, O’Neill said: “Rangers are number of points behind Hearts, and there are only three games left, so that would be difficult to overcome at this stage.

“It’s not impossible. It can happen. You can still win your games. And there are very difficult matches still for all of us to come through.

“From our own position, we have to try and win the three games.

“But even then, strangely, that might not mathematically be enough, with Hearts having a better goal difference than us. I still think there’s a couple of twists still left.

“I suppose probably deep down I was looking for a draw (between Hearts and Rangers). A draw is very, very difficult to cheer on, but that would then have put it in our own hands. As it turns out, mathematically speaking, it’s not actually in our own hands.”

O’Neill was gracious in his view of Hearts, acknowledging they would be deserving champions if they manage to finish the job.

However, he’s far from throwing in the towel.

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Celtic can push the title race to the final day with back-to-back wins, starting with Rangers next weekend followed by Motherwell on 13 April. That would set up a huge clash in the capital – where goal difference could ultimately prove decisive.

“It’s actually a great credit to Hearts this season for investing and going strongly at it, getting their noses in front and being able to stay there,” O’Neill went on.

“From our own viewpoint, it’s been a tough old season. The players have had a number of managers. I don’t know how many times I’ve come in myself. It feels like about six or seven in the one year!

“But credit to the team, we’re still fighting. We still have a chance. There’s no question about it. We still have to try and win our games. But it’s been a long time since a split game between Celtic and Rangers doesn’t constitute the winning of the title.”

O’Neill was subsequently questioned about whether he’d rediscovered his passion for management, with presenter Jim White probing him on the possibility of remaining at the club past the summer. However, a coy O’Neill remarked: “I’ve said it umpteen times, I’ve never enjoyed management! I’ve been out a long time. But of course, there is an enjoyment when you win.

“It’s still exciting, seriously exciting, and it is good. I feel a sense of renaissance, coming back and working with young people, it’s really, really terrific.

“We’ll have to see see how we stand at the end of the season, and that’s nearly upon us now. “

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As he was hit with penalty points and the fine, he also told a court he has ‘no confidence’ in the Department of Infrastructure who are ‘not fit for purpose’

Lord Dunleath was handed three penalty points and a £100 fine today after the peer was convicted of speeding at the international airport.

Despite claims by the 75-year-old that signage at Belfast International Airport was “pathetic” and that he has “no confidence” in the Department of Infrastructure who are “not fit for purpose,” District Judge Nigel Broderick said he was satisfied Lord Dunleath was guilty.

During a half-hour contest at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, Lord Dunleath represented himself to contest the allegation that he was driving at excess speed on 31 May last year.

The court heard that just before 10.30am, a laser detection camera captured an Audi Q7 travelling at 38mph in the 30 zone.

An officer from the Fixed Penalty Office gave evidence that in correspondence with Lord Dunleath over several months, it was confirmed that “the writer was the driver.”

Despite the offer of penalty points and a fine, the offers were not taken up and eventually, Lord Dunleath was notified of an intention for prosecution.

Giving evidence on his own behalf, the 75-year-old told the court he had been returning home to Ballywalter after “dropping two lovely French students at the airport to catch a flight to Paris” when the alleged offence occurred.

He claimed that leaving the airport, drivers are confronted “with a plethora of signs” advising of the route to Belfast and Dublin and remaining drivers “in about six different languages,” to drive on the left hand side.

Declaring that the Road Safety Partnership “have scored an own goal,” Lord Dunleath claimed that signs warning drivers they are in a 30mph zone “are pathetic…and possibly illegal.”

Under cross-examination, he conceded there are speed limit signs on the way to the airport but when asked how long he had been in dropping off the students, Lord Dunleath told the prosecutor “I do not see how that is relevant.”

Handing in two copies of his local paper, the Ards Chronicle, the pensioner said articles within them covered two accidents which had occurred near his home.

He claimed that he has recently had a meeting with MP Jim Shannon about the road near his home and that both he and Mr Shannon have written to the Dept of Infrastructure highlighting the dangers and the lack of signs.

Lord Dunleth lamented however that “I do not have any confidence in the Dept of infrastructure whatsoever…they are not fit for purpose.”

Judge Broderick said while it was clear the defendant “has firmly held views” about the lack of signage and the capabilities of the department, “they’re not really relevant.”

What is relevant, the judge added, was that “I am satisfied that there is sufficient signage to alert drivers” that they are in a 30 mph zone.

Accordingly, Lord Dunleath was convicted of driving with excess speed. While the pensioner claimed he had no previous convictions, Judge Broderick heard that he was fined £240 and given three points for speeding in December 2021.

In relation to his most recent offending, Lord Dunleath told Judge Broerick: “I strongly believe in British justice and if British justice decides that I am guilty, I will just have to accept it really.”

Having been handed a £100 fine and his licence to be endorsed with three penalty points, he said he would go and pay his fine “right now.”

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The appeal comes after a review found several failings of the PSNI during their investigation into the murder of 21-year-old showjumper Katie

Police have urged others who may have been harmed by the man arrested in the Katie Simpson case to come forward, as a review identified more than 30 other potential victims.

The PSNI apologised to Ms Simpson’s family, accepting its “failings are clear” and the force “fell short”.

Ms Simpson, 21, from Tynan, Co Armagh, died in Altnagelvin Area Hospital almost a week after an incident in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney.

READ MORE: Mum of murdered Katie Simpson: ‘People who think they’re above the law, you’re not above God’s law’READ MORE: Katie Simpson report finds she had been groomed by Creswell from the age of 10

Police originally thought she had taken her own life, and it was not until the following year that Jonathan Creswell, the partner of Ms Simpson’s sister, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The trial of Creswell, 36, for the murder of Ms Simpson ended in April 2024 after he took his own life following the first day of proceedings.

An independent review led by Dr Jan Melia, commissioned by the Department of Justice, found that “not one officer thought seriously about abuse/control” in the police investigation in 2020.

It also found officers failed to identify inconsistencies in Creswell’s account, neglected to preserve vital evidence, demonstrated a striking lack of professional curiosity, and failed to employ an investigative mindset or consider the possibility of abuse/control, in spite of clear warning signs.

PSNI assistant chief constable Davy Beck said “work has already commenced” in the force to deal with the failings identified in Ms Simpson’s investigation.

He told reporters in Belfast: “Since this case, we have strengthened training on coercive control, we have also increased emphasis on professional curiosity and an investigative mind set.”

He added: “We have reviewed and refreshed our investigative training and death investigation instructions while enhancing supervisory standards in this regard. Safeguarding referrals in domestic abuse cases are already subject to enhanced supervisory review.

“Oversight structures have been reinforced to ensure clearer escalation when concerns are raised.

“We recognise that more must be done and, as part of our recovery plan, I am committed to increasing resourcing in our Publication Protection Branch.

“We are committed to rebuilding trust through action, accountability, and reform.”

The report also found that 37 people, both female and male, have come forward to say they were abused by Creswell.

Mr Beck appealed to “anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Jonathan Creswell or anyone else”.

“I would urge victims to speak to us, we are here to listen, to help and to keep you safe,” he said.

The senior officer apologised to Ms Simpson’s family and said the force remains “committed to learning from this case”.

“From the PSNI perspective we accept and welcome this review and accept the findings in full. We will of course take some time to review the findings in detail and we are committed to working with the author, the Department of Justice and other partners to implement the recommendations in full,” Mr Beck said.

“The review makes clear that we missed opportunities.

“Warning signs were not fully recognised early enough and we did not listen to some of those who raised early concerns.

“Let me be clear, they got it right and we were too slow to respond to their concerns; that was wrong.

“Patterns of coercive control were not sufficiently understood or challenged, investigative decisions did not always reflect the level of professional curiosity and rigor that should have been applied.

“The failings are clear, we fell short and for that, I am truly sorry.”

Chair of the policing board Brendan Mullan said the review “sets out in stark detail a series of missed opportunities which makes for deeply troubling reading” and highlights the need for “both systems and attitudinal change within policing and the Criminal Justice System”.

He said: “The Board will be questioning the Chief Constable at its meeting this week on how the listed areas for action are now fully embedded and integrated into everyday policing practice and mindset, particularly in light of the findings from the recently published Langdale Review.

“It is welcome that the Justice Minister, in her statement to the Assembly, acknowledged the co-operation and candour on this review.

“It is only through such openness that the changes necessary can be effected so that no other victim will be failed in the way that Katie was.”

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Archie Donald died following a heart attack in November 2019 two weeks after blood tests showed indications of a potential infection.

The death of a three-year-old boy at a Glasgow hospital could have been avoided if an abnormal blood rest result had been acted on sooner, a sheriff has ruled.

Archie Donald died on November 20, 2019 at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow after suffering from an infection.

Born on July 22, 2016, Archie suffered from congenital nephritic syndrome (CNS), a chronic kidney condition that required ongoing medical treatment – and, in 2017, the removal of his left kidney.

During a routine outpatient appointment on November 5, 2019, a blood test found Archie’s C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 98mg/l (milligrams per litre) – well above the “normal range” of 0-10mg/l.

CRP, which measures inflammation levels in the body, is an indicator of infection.

Despite the elevated level, Archie was not assessed for infection and his blood cultures were not taken, and he was allowed to return home.

During his next outpatient appointment on the morning of November 19 medical staff noticed he was “very pale” and that he had developed a heart murmur.

Blood tests were done and he was admitted for a blood transfusion to address low haemoglobin levels, and for investigations into his heart murmur.

After being admitted to a ward that evening Archie was checked regularly and given further tests, and nurses administered antibiotics.

However in the early hours of November 20 his condition was found to have deteriorated, and at 3.36am his mother Caitlin Donald pressed the emergency buzzer as Archie had stopped breathing.

Efforts were made to save his life, but he was pronounced dead at 4.36am having suffered a heart attack.

Samples from his intravenous line earlier that evening later tested positive for a bacteria called Enterococcus faecalis.

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into Archie’s death was held before Sheriff Thomas Millar at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

In his determination, the sheriff said Archie’s death could “realistically” have been avoided if his elevated CRP level on November 5 had been acted upon.

He said had blood cultures been ordered, they would “on balance” have tested positive for Enterococcus faecalis, and “prompted further investigations particularly for appropriate antibiotic treatment to treat or slow progression of the infection”.

The sheriff also noted a failure to follow the “appropriate guidelines and anticipatory care plan in place for Archie”, which he said meant an infection specialist should have been consulted and/or blood cultures ordered where there was a “possibility of infection”.

He said Archie was regularly found to have elevated CRP levels between October 8 and November 5.

Sheriff Millar also noted Archie’s raised CRP level on November 5 was not noted on his discharge letter, and that it would have been raised at a subsequent post-clinic multi-disciplinary team meeting, but that this meeting got rescheduled.

The 39-page judgment added that while the source of the infection is unknown, “for the avoidance of doubt, the source was not connected to Archie’s attendances at the RHC”.

Sheriff Millar ended his determination with an expression of sympathy for Archie’s family.

“I would wish to express my condolences to Archie’s family. Many family members sat through every day of the inquiry, which must have been difficult for them,” the determination read.

“His family had nursed Archie from birth through many hospital visits and cared for him very well.

“Archie was about to embark on another stage of his life with a kidney transplant planned in the near future, with a donation of a kidney from his father.

“The death of any child is a tragedy, but Archie’s even more so.”

Following publication of the determination, Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “The death of Archie Donald occurred in circumstances giving rise to significant public concern and as such a discretionary FAI was instructed.

“The sheriff’s determination is detailed and notes a reasonable precaution that could have been taken to avoid Archie Donald’s death.

“The FAI followed a thorough and comprehensive investigation by the Procurator Fiscal who ensured that the full facts and circumstances of Archie’s death were presented in evidence.

“Archie’s family have been provided with a copy of the sheriff’s determination and our thoughts are with them at this time.”

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