A pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination on the body of 23-year-old Roy Butler, who died five days after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine, has told the inquest into his death that the case is "baffling".
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster told Cork City Coroners Court that she has carried out over 20,000 post-mortems in the course of her career but has never come across a young person dying in this way where an explanation couldn't be furnished.
She said the 23-year-old died of a spontaneous and unexplained intracranial haemorrhage.
She told Coroner Philip Comyn that a causal link to the vaccine cannot be established, or ruled out.
"I certainly cannot rule it out but I would need to know a lot more about the cases. It is extremely rare. It (linking it to data) would have to be based on sound scientific evidence. I cannot say anymore than I cannot rule it in or out and the correct procedure was to contact the National Drugs Advisory Board (which she did) and they correlate all this data.
"You would have to correlate how many of those cases had no underlying abnormality".
A talented footballer, the young man was described by his family as fit, healthy and sporty.
He died on 17 August 2021 after suffering a "catastrophic" brain bleed, five days after receiving the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine.
Earlier, CUH Consultant Neuropathologist Dr Niamh Bermingham said no pre-existing conditions were found on examining Mr Butler's brain post-mortem.
She described it as an unusual case adding that she could not recall in her experience another case of an "unexplained haemmorhage in a young man".
In her closing submission to the coroner, Ciara Davin BL, for the Butler family said Roy Butler's death was caused by the vaccine.
She said that the most appropriate verdict in the case is one of misadventure.
John Lucey, SC for Johnson & Johnson said Mr Butler's death was a "shocking tragedy".
However, he emphasised that the facts were that there was no medical evidence to determine any link between the vaccine and the death of Mr Butler.
He stressed that the range of verdicts in the case should not go beyond a narrative verdict or open verdict. He added that a 'narrative verdict' was the only appropriate verdict in the case.
Coroner Philip Comyn said that the testimony over the last three days was "complicated and moving".
Mr Comyn will email the verdict to the relevant parties within the next fortnight. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the Butler family following their tragic loss in "difficult and unexpected circumstances".
He said Roy was a "healthy young man with his whole future ahead of him".
Speaking outside the court afterwards, Aaron Butler thanked all the people who had supported them over the past three years. He said "the people of Waterford have carried us through and helped keep Roy's memory alive".
He also expressed gratitude for the work of Ms Davin and her team.
"Roy was my brother, he was a loving son that lived for his family and friends. He left a lasting impression on anybody he met. He was caring, positive and content. Three words constantly used to describe Roy are 'the full package'.
"We know he took the Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine on 12 August 2021. His health deteriorated until he passed on 17 August 2021.
"We now await the verdict of the Coroner. We ask that the privacy of the family be respected."
