Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Cops trawling 240,000hrs of hospital CCTV
Court updated on Muckamore probe
POLICE are examining 240,000 hours of CCTV footage as part of a probe into the alleged abuse of patients at Muckamore Abbey Hospital, the High Court has heard.
A team of eight officers has been assigned to go through the material, with further requests made to double their numbers.
Details emerged yesterday as another two nurses who worked at the Co Antrim hospital commenced legal attempts to have their suspensions lifted.
Last week seven of their colleagues successfully appealed the step taken against them by their regulatory body.
The court held there was insufficient evidence for the Nursing and Midwifery Council to impose interim suspension orders on the seven individuals.
They can now practice in the UK, but remain temporarily suspended by the Belfast Trust pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation into allegations vulnerable patients were subjected to physical and mental abuse.
In court yesterday a judge was told the NMC cannot consent to applications by the other two nurses at this stage.
A lawyer for the regulatory body said it was liaising with the Trust and the PSNI over the release of further information. Counsel representing the police told the court the disclosure of footage could prejudice the probe.
He said: “There are approximately 240,000 hours of CCTV footage [and] approximately 90 hours from four individual wards.
“The reason why police feel it cannot be disclosed at this stage is the CCTV evidence represents the centrepiece of this investigation.
“Patients don’t have capacity to provide statements, there aren’t witnesses to the events, and the investigation really does focus on the CCTV footage.”
After submissions, Mr Justice Huddlestone agreed to a one-week adjournment.