Published: Thursday, 2nd August, 2007 11:45
MUM’S FEAR
By Amanda Ramsden
Print Article
Poison plant still growing after accident
A Barrhead mum has lashed out after the weeds which poisoned her son were left to grow – more than a WEEK after the accident.
Moya McCullogh told the News that despite her alerting the council to the hogweed that burned son Jordan – they did not remove the dangerous plant because of a dispute over who owns the land.
The seven-year-old was recovering from open heart surgery when he fell victim to the plant at Aurs Burn by touching it, leaving blisters the size of golf balls on his legs.
He was rushed to Yorkhill Hospital and it is hoped he will be released this week – but Moya revealed the burns on Jordan’s legs will leave permanent scarring.
She said: “I got in touch with the council right away when this happened and even took them to the place the hogweed was. The fact it’s not been removed is just not good enough.
“If it was cannabis I bet they would have found a way of removing it – but this idea of blaming someone else and not taking responsibility is not on.
“They should have got it removed and fought over who was responsible for the land later – safety should come first.
“It’s the summer holidays, children are playing at the burn all the time. Will it take another injury to get something done?”
Carlibar Primary pupil Jordan suffered the burns when he rubbed soil off his legs with a hogweed leaf. Moya told of the fighting spirit behind her little boy who has spent his whole life battling illness.
She said: “It was so unlucky that Jordan was the one that got burned by the weed. It was the first day I had let him go and play with his pals out of my sight – I let him play down at the burn.
“We are heartbroken that he was so badly burned. It’s another setback for a little boy who has been so brave and has been through so much.
“But he’s brilliant. He’s not winging or moaning he just gets on with it – we’re the ones that are gutted by this.”
A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said:“When we heard on Monday what happened to Jordan our Environmental Health officers immediately went to where he had been playing near to Aurs Burn.
“After the council officers identified the plant as hogweed, they asked Jordan’s parents to notify the hospital so medical staff could find a suitable treatment for the lad.
“Staff from the council’s community services team also visited the location.
“They reported it was not land maintained by the council but we are carrying out a legal search to establish who owns the ground and in the interests of public health we will request that they do whatever is needed to remove the hogweed.
“We wish young Jordan a speedy recovery.”
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