The parents of Lucy Letby have expressed their deep distress over her situation, asking for urgent discussions with hospital authorities amid her investigation by police for the horrific deaths of multiple infants. John and Susan Letby revealed during the public inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall how they felt isolated and tormented as the investigation unfolded, urging the Countess of Chester Hospital's leadership for clarity and support.
Two months following Cheshire Constabulary's intervention to investigate rising baby fatalities within the neonatal unit, the Letbys reached out to then board chairman Sir Duncan Nichol. "It is now one year since our nightmare began. There is a saying 'innocent until proven guilty' but it doesn’t seem to apply to Lucy. She is still the only one of all the staff on the neonatal unit to be singled out for punishment," they wrote, highlighting the intense emotional strain they were experiencing.
Desperate for clarity, they requested a meeting, emphasizing, "We would appreciate the meeting to be as soon as possible as the anguish this situation is causing has become intolerable." Despite the urgency conveyed, Nichol admitted during the inquiry he did not reply to their email sent on July 7, 2017, which was also directed to then chief executive Tony Chambers.
Letby's career was effectively put on hold when she was reassigned from her position in the neonatal unit to administrative duties after concerns were raised by two consultant pediatricians. The alarming situation had escalated as medical professionals suspected she may have intentionally harmed infants. Although these allegations were serious, John Letby described the turmoil and anger he felt, claiming he believed a conspiracy had formed against his daughter, particularly by the two consultants involved.
It was revealed during the inquiry how Mr. Letby, alongside his wife and daughter, had met with Chambers in December 2016 to voice their grievances. During the encounter, Mr. Letby was noted to be visibly irate, at one point reportedly saying he felt like he would resort to violence, leading to tensions during the discussion. Chambers noted, "Lucy, don’t worry, we’ve got your back," as he tried to de-escalate the situation. He later recounted his fears of escalated conflict, particularly from Lucy's father.
The inquiry is rehearsing painful details of the tragic events surrounding Letby’s actions. Lucy Letby, now 34 years old and originating from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders for the murders of seven infants and attempting to murder another seven between June 2015 and June 2016 at the same hospital. Her sentencing followed extensive legal proceedings at Manchester Crown Court, which cast light on the harrowing circumstances surrounding her crimes.
Chester Hospital's management was criticized for inadequately addressing the families of Letby’s victims throughout the turmoil. It has been reported they opted to conduct internal reviews rather than alert authorities earlier, contributing to the impression of neglect and lack of transparency around the hospital's actions as the investigation progressed.
Sir Duncan expressed regret during the inquiry, acknowledging the hospital's failure to protect the infants entrusted to their care. "We did not exercise appropriate duty of candour toward the families and this was a serious failure. We were enmeshed within the complex investigations, but this did not excuse our lack of communication with the families, which was inappropriate," he confessed.
The inquiry is expected to continue examining these traumatic events until early 2025, with the final findings anticipated to be released by late autumn of the same year. Families affected by the outcomes of Lucy Letby’s horrifying actions continue to seek answers, longing for justice for their lost children.
