Northern Ireland

Staff 'threatened' in wake of Dunmurry Manor report

THE company which runs Dunmurry Manor has said care home staff have been subjected to threats and intimidation since the release of an investigation into patient neglect.

In a statement released by Essex-based Runwood Homes, a spokeswoman said staff had faced a barrage of abuse on social media – including threats to rape and kill them – over the past two weeks.

“The PSNI has been informed about these incidents and is looking into them,” she said.

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Other allegations include the case of a nurse who had her tyres slashed and a care assistant who was attacked with a bottle while leaving the home.

Staff entering and leaving the building have been filmed by “unknown persons”, the spokeswoman said, while there have been “numerous” abusive telephone calls to the home’s reception workers.

The spokeswoman said: “These incidents are happening despite the fact the current team, with just a few exceptions, didn’t even work at Dunmurry when the historic cases occurred and the home has passed all inspections undergone over the past 15 months.” 

Some former members of staff linked to appalling neglect have been referred to their regulatory bodies, Runwood confirmed.

The Commissioner for Older People, Eddie Lynch, said: “I am appealing for calm and for any intimidation or attacks on staff and the home itself to stop immediately. 

“This behaviour does nothing to help the older people who are at the centre of this issue.”