A major victory but it's only the start.
That was how Glynn Brown, the parent of a Muckamore patient who led the charge for a public inquiry into the unprecendented abuse scandal, greeted yesterday's shock announcement from health minister Robin Swann that an inquiry is to take place.
Watching the live proceedings from his phone in Stormont's Long Hall - the public were not allowed into the main chamber due to Covid restrictions - the Dundonald man stood with lawyer Claire McKeegan and waited for Mr Swann to get to his feet shortly after 4pm.
From noon yesterday, MLAs across all parties voiced their unanimous support for the move in what was the first debate about Muckamore since power-sharing returned in January.
But there was an audible gasp when an emotional Mr Swann confirmed he was calling a "public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005" into the abuse of vulnerable patients at the Co Antrim regional facility.
Stressing that he didn't intend to break the news in this way - he said he wanted to meet the families first - the former Ulster Unionist leader at one point struggled to maintain his composure, stating: "I cannot find words to adequately describe the scale of this betrayal of trust by this scandal".
For Mr Brown, the moment was bittersweet.
"This inquiry was definitely warranted. The major next point will be the terms of reference. Everything has to be on the table that concerns the families," Mr Brown said.
"No-one is to be shielded from scrutiny, especially those of influence.
"This is a victory for relatives but I would much rather officials had done their job and this never happened in the first place - with my son along with others undergoing what they did.
"We should not have been begging politicians to take action to protect our children... we were failed by the hospital, the trust and the entire health service."
Detectives say they are now investigating more than 100 incidents involving Mr Brown's youngest son Aaron (24), who is non-verbal and suffers from severe learning disabilities.
He and his wife Karen are among the relatives who make up the pressure group Action for Muckamore, and have been relentless in their pursuit for "answers and the truth".
Another relative, Catherine Fox, who first contacted The Irish News two years ago about her daughter being placed in a Muckamore seclusion room which she compared to jail, told how she "cried and cried with joy and sadness" following Mr Swann's announcement.
"It's put years on me but the inquiry is fantastic news," she said,
Ms McKeegan said she was "delighted" with the outcome but added it was "a shame it's taken so long to get to this stage".
"We have now set out a terms of reference which we will be sending immediately to the department to ensure this inquiry can run in tandem with any criminal investigation," she said.
"Given that a governance review showed three Muckamore staff refused to co-operate, it's critical that this inquiry has all the powers to compel witnesses and documents in order to get to full truth."
Timeline of a scandal:
JULY 2018
- Whistleblower contacts The Irish News about disturbing CCTV footage reportedly showing abuse of vulnerable patients at Muckamore Abbey Hospital in 2017. A total of 13 staff are suspended. Whistleblower describes it as “public inquiry territory”.
- Belfast trust says it “wishes to apologise unreservedly” to patients and their families after footage allegedly shows patients being struck by staff and pulled to the floor by the hair.
AUGUST
- Police confirm investigating more than 70 incidents relating to allegations of “ill treatment” of patients. It is now the biggest criminal safeguarding investigation of its kind in Northern Ireland, if not the UK.
OCTOBER
- Glynn Brown, the father of a Muckamore patient, contacts The Irish News to say he raised the alarm in August 2017 after learning his son Aaron was allegedly punched in the stomach by a health professional. Told initially it was a “one-off”, there are now more than 100 alleged incidents.
- Mother of a woman with learning disabilities, Catherine Fox, tells The Irish News her daughter was left “traumatised and terrified” by her treatment at Muckamore and equated a seclusion room to “jail”.
DECEMBER
- The Irish News reveals details of confidential meeting attended by Department of Health chiefs in which it emerges Belfast Trust initially “suppressed” details of abuse at the hospital.
- National Crime Agency is appointed by PSNI to assist investigation.
- Lives were “compromised” at Muckamore, a confidential review concludes.
- Human rights lawyer Claire McKeegan is appointed by Muckamore families.
- Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is closed due to staff suspensions.
JANUARY 2019
- Private correspondence obtained by The Irish News reveals department chiefs’ “alarm” at trust’s handling of abuse probe. Admit only became aware after call from politician and trust had wanted to view just a quarter of CCTV footage.
- Freedom of information request reveals Belfast health trust boss accepted there were “clear failures” in alerting government to Muckamore scandal.
MARCH
- Glynn Brown goes public for first time in The Irish News after being asked to head up pressure group made up of families lobbying for a public inquiry into Muckamore.
- Police confirm ‘ill treatment’ allegations stand at 300 – double the figure from January.
MAY
- Outcry after leaked correspondence reveals department civil servants do not believe “in the public interest” to have public inquiry.
JULY
- First Minister Arlene Foster writes to top civil servant about need to “prioritise” a public inquiry. Leaders of other main political parties back an inquiry but power-sharing remains suspended.
AUGUST
- In exclusive interview with The Irish News, lead detective heading up Muckamore investigation, Jill Duffie, reveals 1,500 crimes have been identified in relation to just one ward between April and September 2017.
SEPTEMBER
- Glynn Brown’s wife Karen speaks for first time about impact of the abuse scandal following her diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
OCTOBER
- High-level report leaked to The Irish News reveals serious allegations of abuse were first reported by whistleblowers eight years ago. The abuse uncovered on the Ennis ward is similar to that captured five years later. This report will be central in a 2020 governance review.
- First person arrested by PSNI.
- Forty staff have now been suspended.
JANUARY 2020
- Claire McKeegan urges newly appointed Health Minister Robin Swann to order public inquiry.
- Pressure group Action for Muckamore, headed by Glynn Brown, asks to meet Mr Swann.
MARCH
- Prof Gabriel Scally, lauded for investigation into a health scandal in the Republic, tells The Irish News he offered to head up a similar probe into Muckamore failings.
APRIL
- Detectives submit Muckamore files to the Public Prosecution Service for first time.
JUNE
- Almost 60 staff have now been suspended from hospital – with agency workers making up 40 per cent of the nursing workforce.
AUGUST
- Scathing governance review discovers “missed opportunity” by “dysfunctional” management to identify and act on institutional abuse committed eight years ago at Ennis. Three senior Muckamore managers do not cooperate with review.
- The Irish News learns soaring costs required to keep Muckamore running, with £12m spent on sick leave, agency nurses and suspended staff pay in three years. 62 staff suspended.
SEPTEMBER
- Eighth person arrested.
- Health Minister Robin Swann orders full public inquiry.
