Ban on naming babies allegedly killed by nurse

A JUDGE took the rare step yesterday of issuing an order that bans the naming of babies allegedly murdered by a children’s nurse despite their identities having been revealed just 24 hours earlier.

Judge Steven Everett, Honorary Recorder of Chester, made the order banning any information that could lead to the identification of adult witnesses – the parents – which means the publication of the identities of the dead babies is also stopped.

The i nterim order is expected to be challenged on Wednesday when the judge will hear legal representations from the media.

Nurse Lucy Letby is accused of a year-long killing spree at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit, during which she allegedly murdered eight babies and attempted to kill 10 others. All of the babies allegedly killed were under one, but most were just a few hours or days old. Three babies were killed in a fortnight in June 2015 alone, it is alleged. Ms Letby, 30, appeared in court in person for the first time yesterday after appearing by video link on Thursday. The eight dead babies were all named on Thursday.

The judge has no power to ban the identification of dead babies but under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, he can order reporting restrictions on witnesses if it could enhance or maintain the quality of their evidence and their co-operation. However, the act also stipulates that the judge must consider whether it is in the interests of justice and the public interest to impose a “substantial, unreasonable” restriction on reporting.

One l egal source said: “There is an element of the horse having bolted in this situation.”

Appearing in court yesterday, Ms Letby spoke only to confirm her name.

Ben Myers QC, representi ng Ms Letby, yesterday made an application for bail, which was held in private. Judge Everett refused the bail application.