Heart transplant for boy stymied by Northern Ireland assembly deadlock

Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his mother, Seph Ni Mheallain, at Stormont. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

The plight of a six-year-old boy who needs a heart transplant has taken centre stage in Northern Ireland’s political deadlock but has failed to break the impasse.

The Stormont assembly met on Tuesday to debate an organ donation law but the recall session ended without the election of a speaker, perpetuating a year-long paralysis of the assembly and executive.