Families lose bid over Fuller inquiry
The families of victims abused by murderer and necrophiliac David Fuller have been left with a “huge dilemma” after the High Court rejected their calls for a legal review into a public inquiry.
Depraved Fuller, 67, sexually abused more than 100 corpses across Kent mortuaries while working as an electrician.
Now, after applying for a Judicial Review over plans for a non-statutory inquiry into his heinous crimes, families of his victims have been dealt another blow, after it was rejected.
Tom Mackelden’s mother Tania, who died in February 2017, aged 48, after her breast cancer spread around her body, was one of Fuller’s victims.
The 24-year-old from Coxheath was left needing counselling after two police officers came to his home in October and told him the horrifying news.
He described the decision to reject a Judicial Review as “surprising” and claims he’s not heard a thing from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust or the inquiry chairman Sir Jonathan Michael, who himself said he has been hesitant about tak
ing on the role.
“It doesn’t make sense or seem particularly fair to me for an ex-NHS employee to lead the inquiry,” Mr Mackelden said.
“Without a public inquiry things that aren’t common knowledge could get swept
under the carpet.”
Mr Mackleden, who launched the Tania Mackelden Foundation in his mum’s name at the weekend, has called for the NHS Trust and others to take accountability.
He added: “Someone should
be saying okay, this happened for more than a decade under our watch, we held our hands up, but it seems they’ve done everything in their power to avoid any blame - it’s ludicrous.
“Fuller is obviously the main culprit without a doubt, but he was able to operate in areas for so long without getting caught.
“If it wasn’t for being caught and convicted for the murders of Caroline Pierce and Wendy Knell he would still be doing this.
“Even if he just had the sex abuse sentencing for his crimes he would be out in six years, walking the streets while I start a family.”
The loving son says he has been left “disgusted” after not being contacted by the NHS Trust, adding: “I don’t like to sit here and slate the NHS, for all the good they’ve done, but they’ve not done enough.
“I’ve had no contact from them and I won’t be surprised if it stays that way.
“At the beginning they promised a lot, and said what families wanted to hear, but have no intention on delivering on that, which is disgusting.
“They are amazing for what they do, but they’ve made a mistake on how they’re dealing with things. It hurts us families, and someone needs to be held accountable.”
Sallie Booth, from Irwin Mitchell, who is representing 18 families including Nevres Kemal, whose daughter Azra was one of Fuller’s victims after she tragically died after falling from the A21 in Tonbridge, says they have a “mountain to climb” to try and get a public inquiry.
She revealed they are going through the process of applying for a review so they can give their own oral arguments.
They have serious concerns inquiry chairman Sir Jonathan’s previous history in NHS Trusts and the fact he was previously appointed by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust to investigate the incident internally, before he was chosen to head up the inquiry.
Ms Booth has also questioned how Fuller will be encouraged to take part in the inquiry.
She said: “We are very disappointed by the outcome, but it now leaves a big dilemma for the families about how to engage with the inquiry.
“They will be in a tricky situation about whether to engage with it or not.”