Mayo coroner and solicitor Patrick O'Connor has recorded an open verdict into the death of a 14-year-old boy from Achill in Co Mayo at Swinford courthouse.

Joseph McGinty died on the way to Mayo University Hospital on 13 September 2021.

He attended Mayo University Hospital on 1 September with suspected gastroenteritis and was discharged the following morning despite concerns of some nursing staff.

He was back at the hospital again on 8 September and remained unwell.

The coroner recorded the medical cause of death as "profound adrenal pathology consistent with Addison's disease".

The teenager died three weeks after he received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on 20 August 2021.

The coroner stated that "none of the medical evidence presented to me during the course of this inquest and the enquiries made by me, established that there was any link whatsoever to the administration of the COVID vaccine to Joseph McGinty".

Lost weight

The inquest into his death had heard that the teenager lost weight in the four months before his death.

Mr O'Connor called for the paediatric unit at Mayo University Hospital to be resourced so that it can better provide diagnostic and treatment facilities for paediatric patients.

Joseph was called a "very sick boy" and his GP Dr Edward King had recommended that an "urgent investigation" be carried out to diagnose his condition in his referral letter to the hospital.