Agony of mum in plea for funeral

Mar 10 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

THE mother of a 12-year-old schoolboy who collapsed and died when he was chased by two older boys issued a plea last night for the right to bury her son.

Jordan Maddison, of Fenton Terrace, Houghton-le-Spring, died six weeks ago on Monday, January 28, when he fled two older boys who he feared were going to beat him up.

The youngster, who suffered from a pre-existing heart condition known as aortic stenosis, made it to the safety of a nearby friend’s house in Railway Terrace North, Houghton-le-Spring.

But he collapsed moments after entering the house and later died in Sunderland Royal Hospital.

His body has still not been released and his mother, Bev Chapplow, yesterday begged to bury her son.

Mrs Chapplow, 27, said: “I have my good days and my bad days, but I just wish something would happen.

“I’m not looking forward to the funeral, but at least when we bury him I will know he has had the send-off he deserves.

“He should be laid to rest, not lying in a mortuary behind a sheet of glass where I can’t spend time with him.”

A service was expected to take place at St Oswald’s Church, Shiney Row, on Tuesday, February 26, but was cancelled because the pathologist required more time to investigate the death.

And despite the body being officially released on Wednesday, Mrs Chapplow, a nurse, is now having to wait for those defending the suspects to decide if they want their own doctors to conduct a post-mortem examination.

She said: “I don’t think it’s fair that they can take as long as they want to make a decision.

“It would be different if it were their children. They shouldn’t have the right to do this. They are playing with people’s feelings.

“I don’t think you realise until it’s happened to you. If the circumstances around the death had been normal then I would have had more time to spend with my son.

“The longer they take to make a decision the less chance I have of having him back here in an open casket because nature will take its toll on the body.”

Jordan had a sister, Leah, a four year-old pupil at Barnwell Nursery School, Houghton-le-Spring. And Mrs Chapplow last night held back the tears as she spoke of life without her only son.

She said: “It’s strange not being able to hear him around the house.

“I sometimes still think he’s here because things remind me of him like if I catch his smell.

“I suppose that’s just mother’s intuition though.

“Leah sometimes goes out and she’s playing and she comes in crying because she realises that he’s not around.

“But it’s hard for everyone. His Dad misses him and everyone just wishes he was still here.”

Mrs Chapplow, who is a nurse at Sunderland Royal Hospital, is still planning to hold the service at St Oswald’s Church, and Jordan’s body will be buried in Hougton-le-Spring Cemetery.

The coffin will have an etching of the Newcastle United FC emblem, and the procession will go past Houghton Kepier Sports College, in Houghton-le-Spring, where Jordan was a year-seven pupil.

Mrs Chapplow said: “The school are aware of the funeral and so they will be outside as a mark of respect.

“It’s for the kids that won’t be able to go to the service.”

Two arrested over Jordan’s death

POLICE have confirmed that two people were arrested over Jordan’s death but were released on bail until April 8.

DCI Mark Anastasi, senior investigating officer, said: "Northumbria Police have completed all medical examinations relevant to the death of Jordan Maddison.

"An independent post-mortem has also been conducted on behalf of Mr Derek Winter, HM coroner for Sunderland.

"All reports have been shared with Henderson’s solicitors who are representing the suspects in this case.

"I have written to Michael Henderson personally expressing the distress being caused to the family by the delay in releasing Jordan’s body.

"Family Liaison Officers from Northumbria Police are working closely with Jordan’s parents, Beverley and Eric, to ensure they are fully updated.

"As soon as Mr Henderson updates Northumbria Police with authority to release the body we will be in a position to speak to the coroner to allow the funeral arrangements to proceed."

No one from Mr Henderson’s office was available for comment.