PSNI advising staff at Dunmurry Manor over safety following threats
THE PSNI says it is working closely with staff at Dunmurry Manor to “maximise” their safety after the owners claimed workers had received death threats since the publication of a damning report into the care home.
It comes after the Belfast Telegraph revealed that staff had been given personal attack alarms and that CCTV cameras had been installed at the home following a number of incidents.
The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland’s (COPNI) investigation slammed Dunmurry Manor for a “horrific catalogue of inhuman and degrading treatment” of some residents.
In a statement issued on behalf of Runwood Homes’ board of directors on Wednesday, the firm said police were called to an incident outside the home that day, when “staff felt intimidated by a number of people in cars who arrived up at the care home just after noon”.
Other alleged incidents involved a care assistant being “attacked with a bottle while leaving the building” and staff being “jeered at in the street, spat on or verbally attacked”.
And it was claimed that workers’ children were “coming home from school in tears because they have been taunted that their mothers are ‘sex abusers’”. Runwood Homes claimed that another incident had occurred at lunchtime yesterday, when a man “pulled up outside the home in a car and took a series of photographs of the car park”.
It said the company had not “made official reports of each and every incident experienced” by Dunmurry Manor staff, who had “endured a nasty and relentless campaign of vitriol, particularly on social media, which began with the release of the COPNI report”.
It added: “When it became evident these attacks were not going to stop, but were becoming more frequent and menacing in nature, we consulted with the police.
“A police community liaison officer was appointed to work with Dunmurry Manor on June 22 and met with staff members to advise on crime prevention and personal safety.
“A log of all incidents has been kept by the home and will be discussed in detail when Runwood Homes meets again with the PSNI early next week.”
Police said two incidents involving individuals turning up at the care home were reported on Wednesday and that, following investigation, “no criminal offences have been identified at this time”.
They added that a further report was received yesterday but, again, no criminal offences were identified.
The PSNI said it was “awaiting further information from management” regarding other concerns over staff welfare, and that “mini key ring torch alarms were provided to staff ”.
Appealing for calm, Chief Inspector Lorraine Dobson said officers were working to ensure the “safety and care of the residents” as well as staff, and warned that the incidents “can only have a detrimental effect on vulnerable elderly residents”.
She added: “The welfare of the residents is our priority and I would encourage staff and visitors attending the home to report all incidents of harassment and intimidation to police.
“We all want the best for our elderly loved ones and these incidents can only have a detrimental effect on vulnerable elderly residents.
“I would therefore appeal for calm in the community and ask that if there are any concerns, please report them in the proper manner to police or the relevant authority.”
Unison said it was continuing to meet with its members at Dunmurry Manor to “determine if Runwood Homes and the PSNI are taking all the necessary actions to protect them in their place of work”.
It added: “Again we stress that it is completely unacceptable for any workers to be subject to any threats or intimidation of this kind and it is the responsibility of Runwood to report incidents as and when they occur.”