Families of Muckamore patients leave brand investigation ‘complicated’

Family members of Muckamore Abbey Hospital patients have described the ongoing public inquiry into abuse at the hospital as a “mess”.

It came as lawyers launched a legal challenge against the investigation, saying the families felt they had been “left aside” and “unfairly treated”.

Part of the challenge is a request to overturn the inquiry’s decision not to call a single health minister to give evidence.

It also calls for greater transparency in hearing evidence.

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

The public inquiry is investigating abuse at the hospital outside Antrim.

‘We are not resting’

Glynn Brown, a former patient of his son Aaron, was instrumental in uncovering the scandal.

He said he was “very angry” with the way the investigation was conducted.

“I don’t think this is the public inquiry we campaigned so hard for,” he told BBC News NI.

Marjorie Sharp, whose daughter Laura has been a patient there for more than 17 years, said families do not trust the investigation.

“We were treated very badly,” he said.

“We are not being listened to, we feel rushed; they want to finish the job as soon as possible.

“We speak on behalf of our loved ones because they have no voice.”

Attorney Claire McKeegan is representing some of the patients’ families.

He said other issues included plans to hear closing arguments and hear evidence in special sessions before all evidence is heard.

Ms McKeegan criticized plans to meet with families about relocating patients from Muckamore early next year following the conclusion of the investigation.

“As we all know by now, for our patients’ families, relocation is what will secure their future,” Ms. McKeegan said.

“Failure to properly deal with relocation to communities is why many patients have languished at Muckamore Abbey Hospital for decades.

“This is one of the most important parts of the investigation, and our clients say this should not be done in private session.”

A spokeswoman for the inquiry confirmed it plans to hold facilitated sessions for families, patients and carers to discuss their experiences of relocation.

“This will be planned for an informal setting in the form of facilitated discussions with the participation of the panel to allow for the association and discussion of recent experiences, as opposed to the formal collection of evidence when the investigation is made public,” the spokesperson said.

“The invitation will be entirely voluntary, not limited to core participants, and will be recorded (subject to the necessary restraining order) with a summary of each discussion published without naming the speakers.”

Ms McKeegan said: “In court today counsel said the public inquiry should be the cornerstone of openness and transparency and they feel they have been sidelined.”

The public inquiry opened in October 2021 and closing submissions are planned to be made before the end of this year.

A case management hearing for judicial review was held at Belfast High Court on Thursday, with a full hearing confirmed to be held on 2 December.

A separate major police investigation was launched in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to emerge.

A lawsuit was filed against 15 people in connection with the criminal investigation.