FORMER Blackburn coroner Andre Rebello today defended his actions after a new row broke out over the alleged retention of body organs at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

The Liverpool hospital, which treats children from East Lancashire, was at the centre of a scandal three years ago when it was revealed that staff kept hundreds of organs.

They were taken without parents' consent during post-mortem examinations on children for research.

Yesterday, solicitors acting for the parents of six-year-old Kieran Peters claimed that several organs were taken from the boy, who died in March 2000, despite his parents' specific request that the body be left intact.

The hospital has claimed that samples taken during a coroner's post mortem examination have always been governed by different guidelines and that retention was not excessive.

And Mr Rebello, who is now Liverpool's city coroner, said today: "The pathologist only carried out what was authorised, appropriate and necessary, and in line with international standards.

"The same procedure would have been carried out in hospitals anywhere around the world."

He added that the pathologist who performed the post-mortem examination -- which he ordered -- had not retained whole organs, but had taken only the samples of body tissue which he needed in order to carry the tests which were required.

"Only small samples were taken away for further investigation," he said.

"This little boy died after a seizure. The pathologist was trying to find an explanation for this, " Mr Rebello added. "There had also been allegations made about his treatment." Solicitor Ian Cohen, who represents Kieran's parents, who live in Conway, North Wales, said: "They made the specific request that their son's organs should not be removed and yet two years later they are told that his organs were taken." A spokesman for Alder Hey said that the removal of Kieran's organs was a "necessary" part of a coroner's post-mortem examination and was entirely different to the retention of body parts for research.

He said: "A post mortem process involves creating blocks and slides of tissue for microscopic examination to help determine the cause of death. This was done by order of the coroner.

"The creation of blocks and slides often requires that parts of organs -- sometimes whole organs -- are removed and kept until after the funeral would normally take place.

"Material kept in this case was not regarded as excessive or anything other than necessary.

"This is an entirely different process from the deliberate retention of organs for research or other purposes, without consent."

Mr Cohen said: "The hospital has a duty to make sure parents understand exactly what is happening and are not given incorrect information."

Mr Rebello said he had sent a letter to Kieran's parents in April explaining the circumstances.

Mr Rebello, who still lives in Blackburn, took up up his appointment in July 1999, after moving from Blackburn where he conducted nearly 600 inquests.