'We're under hospital arrest' - Billy Caldwell's mum speaks out over emergency medicinal cannabis licence

Billy's mum says arriving back in Northern Ireland has felt 'bitter-sweet' Credit: UTV

Billy Caldwell’s mum says he’s ‘under hospital arrest’ after the decision to administer medicinal cannabis was restricted to the Royal Victoria.

Charlotte Caldwell has described arriving home after a four-week stay in London as ‘bitter-sweet’.

Her 12-year-old son has a rare form of epilepsy which Charlotte uses cannabis oil to keep under control.

Today the Department of Health received a 14-day emergency licence from the Belfast Trust allowing Billy to use medicinal cannabis, but only at the Royal Victoria in Belfast.

However, Billy and his mum live in Castlederg, which is over an hour and a half’s drive away from the Royal Victoria hospital.

The Department is in discussions with the Home Office to finalise arrangements for Billy’s medicine to be transported from London to the trust.