Earlier this week, Italian newspaper La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana reported that Alfie Evans was given four injections a few hours before the 23-month-old died Saturday morning. Journalist Benedetta Frigerio, who wrote the story and was close to the family at the time of Alfie’s death, has stood by her claim 100 percent.
But on Tuesday, LifeNews.com published a piece claiming that the report had been debunked by the Evans family. “Alfie Evans’ Family Refutes Newspaper Report Claiming Alfie Was Given Four Unknown Drugs Just Before He Died,” reads the headline.
The LifeNews article calls the La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana report “incorrect” and “apparently false,” citing British journalist and pro-life advocate Caroline Farrow, who has been diligently covering the Evans family’s legal battle.
Farrow was contacted Tuesday morning by Flo Hoy, an administrator of the Alfie’s Army official Facebook group. In a message to Farrow, Hoy wrote, “Caroline, that article is causing great distress and is untrue.”
Hoy, however, provided no additional information to back her claims, and Alfie’s family members have not issued any official statements confirming or denying the reports. Though she is listed as one of the page’s official administrators, her relationship to Alfie’s family, if any, is unclear.
Faithwire has reached out to Farrow, who said that she originally posted the La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana report “in good faith, knowing that the journalist [Benedetta Frigerio] was close to the family.”
“I passed on (to) Life News the message from the Alfie’s Army administrator that the story was untrue and causing the family distress,” she told Faithwire.
Farrow added that Hoy has since doubled down on her claim, though she has not provided evidence to back it up. Frigerio, however, has “has privately cited trusted sources” and will only take the article down if directed to do so by Alfie’s family.
“I can neither confirm nor deny the story, but would note that they are a credible publication,” Farrow said of the La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana report.
“I presumed the story was authorised but I feel that the family’s wishes for privacy should be respected,” she added.
In sum, the report has not been refuted by Alfie’s family, and no substantial evidence has been provided to contradict its claims.
Faithwire will continue to update you with the latest on this case. In the meantime, please keep the Evans family in your prayers.