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A young boy from Northern Ireland is to be the first to be prescribed medicinal cannabis by a local doctor, his mum has revealed.

Billy Caldwell walked the 150 miles his home in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, with mum Charlotte to an appointment at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast this week.

The plan was to continue the drive to have medicinal cannabis legalised in the UK and along the way they were joined by many who supported them.

And their gruelling eight-day trek ended in success when they were assured that a doctor specialising in epilepsy was willing not only to listen to their plight, but treat Billy and prescribe medicinal cannabis right here in Northern Ireland.

Charlotte said: “Our long walk has ended in success. The Royal Victoria Hospital has agreed to allow Green Light Medicine to continue to provide Billy with the medicinal cannabis he needs to keep him alive, on prescription. This is a first in Northern Ireland and I hope it will pave the way for other families who are desperate for the treatment, to get it.”

Billy, 11, suffers from intractable epilepsy and repeated seizures, each one potentially lethal, have left him with developmental delay.

A decade ago he was sent home from hospital and his mother advised to make him comfortable for whatever time he would have left.

Since then his health care has been provided by a specialist in the US, Dr Nordli, thanks to funding raised by friends, family and supporters of the mum and son.

Now a Belfast-based doctor has contacted Dr Douglas Nordli in Los Angeles to assess his work with Billy, and Charlotte says her meeting with the doctor on Wednesday was emotional and hugely positive.

She explained: “Ten years ago I was advised to take Billy home and let him die. But I couldn’t give up on him and when I found Dr Nordli, Billy’s life was saved. But it has meant that I have had to take Billy back to the US whenever he needed medical help.

“Now though, a Belfast-based doctor has met with us and agreed a way to take over his medical care from Dr Nordli and work with the medical team in the United States so that Billy be at home and get the medical treatment he needs indefinitely.

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

“History has been made. My wee epilepsy warrior is the first child in Ireland who will be prescribed medicinal cannabis without licence.

“This opens the doors for other children like Billy who desperately need this medication.”

Charlotte said the good news means that the move to submit a bill to create a new law in Northern Ireland can now be put forward as soon as a government is in place.

She said: “We will be proposing Billy’s Law: Medicinal Cannabis Bill. It has been drawn up with the help of clinicians and politicians. As soon as Stormont is up and running, we will be able to take it there and pushing for it to be passed urgently to end the suffering of so many people in Northern Ireland.

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

“It has been an incredible journey and without the support of family, friends and strangers, this would never have happened.

“I want to thank each and every one for staying by our side during this long campaign. We are truly indebted to everyone who gave us support.”