A new scan on Charlie Gard makes for "sad reading", a lawyer representing Great Ormond Street Hospital has said.

Barrister Katie Gollop QC broke the news on Friday during the latest stage of the couple's legal fight over treatment for the terminally ill baby.

Ms Gollop said: "Almost all the medical evidence in this case makes for sad reading."

It is understood Charlie's parents had not seen details of the latest MRI scan and reacted badly when it was revealed in court.

Charlie's mother, Connie Yates, began to cry and said: "We haven't even read it."


His father Chris Gard looked directly at the Great Ormond Street lawyer and said "evil" before they stormed out.

The emotional scenes led Ms Gollop to add: "I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to cause distress."

The couple's barrister Grant Armstrong said Ms Gallop should not have broken the news about the scan before Charlie's parents had read the report.

A judge at the High Court has been hearing evidence about the potential of an experimental treatment that it is claimed could help the baby.

Charlie's parents want permission to take him to America to try the treatment but Great Ormond Street says it would not help him.

They have also been unable to persuade European Court of Human Rights judges to intervene.

Image: Charlie Gard's parents want new evidence considered

The couple, from Bedfont, west London, say there is new evidence and want Mr Justice Francis to carry out a fresh analysis of their case.

The judge ruled in April in favour of the hospital and said Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity.

American specialist, Michio Hirano, a professor of neurology at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York, travelled to London this week to examine Charlie for the first time and discuss the case with Great Ormond Street doctors.

He has offered to provide treatment that may improve Charlie's rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.

Mr Armstrong told the judge that a "range of opinions" had been expressed when experts gathered at Great Ormond Street.

But Ms Gollop said: "We don't yet have any of this apparent new evidence."

Lawyers have said they will examine data from new scans and reports from discussions at Great Ormond Street on Charlie over the weekend.

Mr Justice Francis has told Charlie's parents that he will not re-run the case but will consider any "new material".

The judge will consider their latest claims at a hearing starting on Monday after examining preliminary issues on Friday when he was told about the scan.



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