Northern Ireland

Muckamore families back Public Inquiry chair appointment

Tom Kark QC will oversee the Muckamore Abbey hospital Public Inquiry
Tom Kark QC will oversee the Muckamore Abbey hospital Public Inquiry Tom Kark QC will oversee the Muckamore Abbey hospital Public Inquiry

FAMILIES of Muckamore Abbey Hospital patients have "warmly welcomed" the appointment of a leading English barrister to chair a public inquiry into an abuse scandal at the facility.

Tom Kark QC was confirmed for the role yesterday, nine months after Health Minister Robin Swann ordered the statutory inquiry into alleged physical mistreatment and mental abuse of vulnerable patients by NHS staff.

A major police investigation is ongoing, with seven people facing prosecutions while there have been 22 arrests. More than 70 staff have been suspended by the Belfast trust, which is responsible for Muckamore.

Described as someone with a "phenomenal work ethic", Mr Kark played a central role in the landmark Francis inquiry into avoidable hospital deaths at the Mid-Staffordshire health trust in 2010.

Speaking in 2013 about his the 'Mid-Staff' findings, the QC said there was a "culture of secrecy" and "culture of fear" that led to "appalling" patient care - and re-iterated his support for the introduction of an individual and organisational 'duty of candour' compelling health professionals to tell the truth.

Dundonald man Glynn Brown, who was the first parent to raise the the alarm about alleged abuse of his non-verbal son Aaron in Muckmore four years ago, said he hopes the appointment means "action can be implemented swiftly" in relation to the inquiry's rollout.

"We warmly welcome Mr Kark's appointment and look forward to engaging with him. We want to see him get the inquiry up and running promptly and agree the terms of reference," Mr Brown, who chairs the pressure group Action For Muckamore (AFM), said.

"We're expecting him to meet with the parents and get our opinions on things and take consideration of our views...given we have a deep distrust of officials."

In a statement yesterday, Mr Swann pledged that families and patients will be "at the very centre" of influencing the inquiry's scope and terms of reference.

A consultation was launched last December by the Patient Client Council (PCC) to allow those affected to have their say about the inquiry. A final PCC report was released yesterday detailing their responses.

Solicitor Claire McKeegan of Phoenix Law who acts for AFM and other Muckamore families said her clients were "relieved" at the appointment following a "long and distressing campaign".

The human rights lawyer said relatives had fought to ensure "the full truth is exposed of who knew what and when" in relation to "these vile wrongs perpetrated on the most vulnerable in our society".

Ms McKeegan added: "The families will be writing to the newly appointed chair in the coming days to ensure that steps are taken to preserve all of the vital evidence the inquiry requires, including critical email chains and disclosure which the families fear could be at risk.

"It is important the inquiry is established immediately and that Muckamore patients are vindicated and protected.

"The families are adamant that their voices are heard and be front and centre at this inquiry, and that they are fully represented and engaged from the outset.

"It is important that lessons from the scandal are learnt so that this can never happen again."

The Muckamore case is the biggest criminal investigation of its kind in Northern Ireland with 1,500 suspected crimes discovered in one ward alone between April and September 2017.

More than 300,000 hours of CCTV footage from hospital wards are central to the police probe - with staff suspects not realising the cameras were recording.