Hope for patients to get 'deserved' answers in abuse inquiry

It is a "sincere hope" that patients of Muckamore Abbey Hospital and their families are given the answers they "rightly deserve" following the public inquiry into abuse at the facility.

That was according to senior counsel to the inquiry Sean Doran KC in his closing statement on the final day of public hearings.

The public inquiry into what happened at the Antrim-based hospital began in June 2022.

Mr Doran said the inquiry's objective was to focus on an examination of the issue of abuse, the reasons for its occurrence, and the need to ensure that it does not recur in the future.

Since then, there have been 120 sitting days, which have featured oral evidence from 181 witnesses.

Mr Doran said there had been a "substantial" body of evidence brought before the inquiry panel.

That included testimony from families whose loved ones were patients at the hospital, as well as people who worked there.

Mr Doran said in so far as was possible, the inquiry sought to hear from witnesses from "various categories and levels of staff who worked at Muckamore" and with "experience on different wards".

In addition to the public inquiry, a separate major police investigation began in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to emerge.

Mr Doran said the fact that criminal proceedings were being carried out at the same time as the inquiry had posed "challenges".

Fifteen individuals are facing prosecution, among them carers and nurses.

However he said the inquiry had liaised regularly with the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service, and that appropriate measures had been undertaken to protect against the risk of prejudice against criminal proceedings.

"The inquiry has operated and will continue to operate with sensitivity to the live nature of criminal proceedings that may conceivably extend to some time beyond the life of the inquiry," he added.

Muckamore is run by the Belfast Health Trust and provides facilities for adults with special needs.

Last week the trust said patients' families were "undoubtedly failed".

The inquiry is due to publish its findings later this year.