PROSECUTORS considering the Muckamore Abbey Hospital abuse scandal have received new police evidence on a further nine "suspects" who worked in the facility's psychiatric intensive care unit.
Correspondence seen by The Irish News reveals that detectives forwarded a "third file" to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) three weeks ago as part of the probe into the Co Antrim facility.
Families of Muckamore patients who allegedly suffered physical assaults and mental cruelty received letters from the PPS last week informing them of the development.
In April, it was confirmed that seven people are to face charges in relation to allegations of "ill-treatment and wilful neglect" at the regional hospital's psychiatric ICU, which cared for critically ill adults with severe learning disabilities.
The case is the biggest criminal investigation of its kind in Northern Ireland with 1,500 suspected crimes discovered in one ward between April and September 2017. There have been 22 arrests to date.
Relatives' concerns about delays in bringing the alleged offences before the courts are also addressed in the July 6 correspondence, with prosecutors noting the scale of the evidence.
The first police file was forwarded to them last Easter and the second in December.
The letter, which is sent on behalf of the PPS director, states: "The prosecuting team continues to work at pace to complete the papers required to bring the suspects before the District (Magistrates') Court.
"The delay is caused by the volume of material which has been provided in the police investigation but we hope to be in a position to finalise the papers for service on the suspects in last August 2021."
It adds: "In the meantime, I can confirm the PPS received a third file from police on 22 June, 2021. That file reports nine suspects who were employed by the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit and that file is being considered by the prosecution team."
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.
A total of 74 Muckamore employees - mainly nursing staff - have been suspended by the Belfast health trust as part of an ongoing disciplinary investigation into suspected abuse. Three employees have been sacked.
Last month, Tom Kark QC was appointed to oversee a Public Inquiry into Muckamore, nine months after the inquiry was first ordered by health minister Robin Swann.
