Lucy Letby: Families oppose attempt to stop inquiry

The families of babies murdered and attacked by nurse Lucy Letby have argued that the public inquiry into her crimes should not be paused.

Ex-managers at the Countess of Chester Hospital have asked the Thirlwall Inquiry, which is in its final stages, to be paused because of what they said was a “real possibility” that her convictions may be overturned.

Letby, 35, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others while she worked on the neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.

Letters to the inquiry have also been sent by Letby’s legal team, although she is not classed as a core participant, and from Sir David Davis MP, who has repeatedly said he believes there was a miscarriage of justice.

Letby’s new barrister, Mark McDonald, arranged a press conference in February attended by a panel of 14 international experts in neonatology and paediatric care which disputed the prosecution’s evidence from the trials.

Their report forms part of an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the statutory body set up to look for miscarriages of justice, asking it to refer Letby’s case to the Court of Appeal for a full hearing.

However, Richard Baker KC, representing some of the parents of babies harmed and killed by Letby, said: “Letby will have a serious mountain to climb in convincing the Criminal Cases Review Commission or the Court of Appeal that [her application] is indeed fresh evidence.”

Referring to recent publicity generated by Letby’s new legal team, he said the former nurse had “cynically tried to change the narrative”.

“Despite all the bells and whistles which might be attached to a press conference, there is nothing new or remarkable about the evidence being presented,” he said.

“The volume of noise surrounding this inquiry shouldn’t be allowed to distract from the message at its heart.”

Representing a separate group of families, Peter Skelton KC said: “Lucy Letby has been convicted during a protracted trial during which she had access to the finest criminal legal team and numerous medical specialist experts across all relevant specialisms, none of whom were ultimately called to give evidence to support her defence.”

Regarding a report published by the panel of medical experts who are working with Letby’s new legal team, he said: “Cursory analysis of the report identifies multiple problems with their analysis.

“What has been presented with great fanfare as new and incontrovertible evidence turns out to be old and full of analytical holes.

“Critical medical and non-medical evidence from the trials and this inquiry has been ignored or dismissed.”

About the former senior hospital managers, Mr Skelton said: “They appear to have lived in and still be living in an alternate and internally contradictory reality – one where no murders or attempted murders took place.

“This is arrogant, self-serving fantasy.”

Chairwoman Lady Justice Thirlwall said the findings of the inquiry, sitting in Liverpool, would be published in the autumn.