Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Care home workers get death threats
PSNI probe claims amid report backlash
STAFF at an under-fire care home have been intimidated by cars full of people arriving at the premises, bosses claimed yesterday.
Management at Dunmurry Manor, the subject of a damning report by the Commissioner for Older People, have also claimed people connected with the facility are “being threatened with rape, shooting and death on social media”.
In a statement, Runwood Homes said the PSNI were “called to an incident outside Dunmurry Manor when staff felt intimidated by a number of people in cars who arrived up at the care home. It is with great sadness and concern we confirm this is just the latest in a series of incidents involving care staff working at Dunmurry Manor, who have come under serious and sustained attack since the publication of the COPNI report on 13th June.
“The PSNI has been informed about these incidents and is currently looking into them. They are happening despite the fact the current staff team, with just a few exceptions, didn’t even work at Dunmurry when the historic cases occurred and the home has passed all inspections over the past 15 months.”
The company claims incidents include:
Individuals being threatened with rape, shooting and death on social media,
A care assistant attacked with a bottle while leaving the building, and
Numerous vicious and abusive phone calls to our reception.
The PSNI has been asked for a comment on the claims but has not yet issued a statement.
Earlier Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly apologised for the suffering inflicted on residents at Dunmurry Manor and “outlined a series of measures to enhance standards and restore confidence”.