Letby likely murdered more children, doctor tells inquiry

A elder doc who raised the alarm astir Lucy Letby has told a nationalist enquiry it is “likely” the caregiver murdered oregon assaulted much children earlier June 2015.

Stephen Brearey was pb neonatal advisor astatine the Countess of Chester Hospital wherever caregiver Letby murdered 7 babies and tried to execution 7 others betwixt June 2015 and June 2016.

He led a radical of 7 consultants who spent months raising concerns Letby was deliberately harming babies.

Dr Brearey said "on reflection" it was apt she had attacked and killed babies previously.

The nationalist inquiry, chaired by High Court justice Lady Justice Thirlwall, is examining the circumstances surrounding Letby's crimes.

Peter Skelton KC, representing families of Letby’s victims said: “Child A was murdered connected 8 June 2015. Is it your presumption that she [Letby] had murdered oregon assaulted children successful your infirmary anterior to that date?

Dr Brearey replied: “I deliberation that’s likely, yes.”

But helium said cipher successful the infirmary had suspected Letby was harming children anterior to June 2015.

The enquiry besides heard the caregiver had been redeployed from the hospital's neonatal portion to a clerical relation successful July 2016 aft a bid of babies had either died unexpectedly oregon travel adjacent to decease during the erstwhile year.

Consultants insisted Letby should beryllium removed from nursing duties, the proceeding heard.

After an interior grievance process lodged by Letby was upheld successful her favour, though, the mode was paved for her to instrumentality to nursing.

And, successful January 2017, infirmary bosses called the consultants to a gathering wherever main enforcement Tony Chambers told them to apologise to Letby and her family.

At that meeting, caput of nursing successful the urgent attraction part Karen Rees past work retired a connection from Letby.

Giving grounds astatine the nationalist enquiry successful Liverpool, Dr Brearey said: “The full gathering felt choreographed and Karen Rees was rather melodramatic successful her speechmaking of it.

"We were each rather stunned - arsenic a synopsis of enforcement behaviour I can’t ideate an illustration of thing much incompetent successful the past of the NHS.

"How you tin commencement a gathering saying you travel ‘Speak Out Safely’ practices and past archer each 7 consultants that person important concerns that they person to apologise to the person? And that she would beryllium going backmost to enactment oregon other determination would beryllium consequences?

"It was rather striking and astonishing and upsetting for astir radical there."

At the clip suspicions astir Letby were being raised, spot had breached down betwixt members of the unit's staff, said Dr Brearey.

He said it sometimes felt similar helium was moving successful "North Korea oregon East Germany", incapable to "have an unfastened conversation" with colleagues.

This, said Dr Brearey, was "really sad".

Earlier, the pb advisor began his grounds by apologising to the parents of babies attacked by Letby.

"I’m atrocious for my portion successful not being capable to support your babies," helium said. "I tin conscionable accidental that I tried my best, and I admit that astatine times my champion was not enough.

"I anticipation you each get the information and justness that you deserve."

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders aft she was convicted astatine Manchester Crown Court of murdering 7 infants and attempting to execution 7 others, with 2 attempts connected 1 of her victims.

The nationalist inquiry, sitting astatine Liverpool Town Hall, is expected to beryllium until aboriginal successful the caller year.

Its findings volition apt beryllium published successful the precocious autumn of 2025.