Lady Justice Thirlwall has expressed concern over the “outpouring of comment” surrounding Lucy Letby’s convictions for murder and attempted murder, stating that it has caused significant stress for the parents of her victims. Thirlwall emphasized that doubts about Letby’s convictions have come from those who were not present at the trial, and that the court of appeal has upheld the convictions. The inquiry, named after Thirlwall rather than Letby, will focus on the experiences of the victims’ parents, the conduct of hospital staff in relation to Letby, and the effectiveness of NHS management.
The first day of the Thirlwall inquiry heard opening statements regarding the hospital’s handling of the deaths and collapses of infants, as well as the potential missed opportunities to identify Letby’s actions sooner. Questions were raised about the hospital’s processes for reviewing infant deaths and the governance structure.
The inquiry aims to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future by examining the hospital’s response to the deaths and collapses. Legal counsel Rachel Langdale emphasized the need to consider all evidence comprehensively to avoid reaching speculative and damaging conclusions. The inquiry will not focus on Letby’s motive, but on understanding why detailed medical analysis of the deaths did not occur sooner and why the attacks were able to continue for a year.
Overall, the Thirlwall inquiry seeks to provide justice for the victims, shed light on the failures of the hospital’s response, and ultimately keep babies safe in healthcare settings.
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