A PUBLIC Inquiry into an abuse scandal at Muckamore Abbey Hospital will investigate "events" going back more than 20 years - in a move welcomed by families last night.
The timescale was confirmed yesterday as the long-awaited the Terms of Reference (ToR) were unveiled by Health Minister Robin Swann, who acknowledged the "severe hurt, distress and anxiety caused".
Mr Swann ordered the inquiry last September following a high profile campaign by relatives of vulnerable patients in the Co Antrim regional facility.
Physical abuse, mental cruelty and neglect of adult patients by staff - mainly from the nursing workforce - will be examined by the inquiry team, with a start date of October 11.
Its "core objectives" are to determine "why the abuse happened and the range of circumstances that allowed it to happen" as well as ensuring "such abuse does not occur again at Muckamore Abbey Hospital (MAH)" or "any other institution providing similar services in Northern Ireland".
A major police investigation is ongoing into suspected crimes, which were captured on CCTV on a Muckamore ward between April and September 2017, with 24 people currently arrested.
However, the inquiry's legal powers will allow them to probe events at the hospital between December 2, 1999 and June 14 this year.
Dundonald man Glynn Brown, who was the first person to raise the alarm four years ago after his non-verbal son Aaron was allegedly abused in the hospital, welcomed the scope of the inquiry and its timeframe.
Mr Brown chairs a pressure group, Action for Muckamore (AFM) made up relatives affected by abuse allegations.
"We welcome the report is going back quite a reasonable distance because it means all the families, not just the AFM families, will have the opportunity for justice - this scandal goes back many years," he said.
"We hope everything will be fully independent and done in an open and transparent manner from the start. We would also like to see previous independent reports redone, such as the Serious Adverse Incident report commissioend by the Belfast trust, as they were a whitewash.
"It's now four years since this broke and we haven't seen any senior managers held to account."
According to the Terms of Reference, the role of senior managers and those with "professional oversight" will be under the spotlight - from the Belfast trust to the Department of Heath to the Health and Social Care Board.
The response of the police and the health watchdog, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), to complaints raised by whistleblowers and family members is also to be investigated.
Tom Kark QC is to chair the inquiry and said he was "honoured" to do so.
He added: "I am pleased that the Terms of Reference have now been published which I believe are wide enough to allow me and my panel to investigate the issues at Muckamore Abbey Hospital in considerable depth. We can now move forward with purpose."
Professor Glynis Murphy, a chartered clinical and forensic psychologist, and Dr Peter Carter, a psychiatric nurse, have been appointed as inquiry panel members.
Mr Kark said the two individuals were "leading experts in their respective professions with considerable understanding of the treatment and care of patients with mental health conditions and learning disabilities".
The leading QC, who played a key role in the Francis inquiry into avoidable hospital deaths at the Mid-Staffordshire health trust in 2010, said the Muckamore inquiry is expected to take some time due to its "size and scale".
"Further activity is required prior to the commencement of the public hearings and I would like to assure people that every effort is being undertaken to move forward swiftly," Mr Kark said.
"It is imperative that we engage with as many people as possible, and I would encourage those affected by the issues at Muckamore Abbey Hospital, to come forward early. Details of how to do so will shortly be posted on our website.
"This Inquiry is about the wellbeing of vulnerable people who have been entrusted into the care of others, often away from their families. These issues will be thoroughly and impartially investigated by myself and the panel.
"It is my aim to ensure that the Inquiry is full, open and wholly meets the extensive terms of reference."
