No parent ever expects to lose a child. It is completely against the natural order of things. Losing a baby who appears to be healthy, is even more inexplicable and harrowing. The parents are barely have a chance to get to know the tiny life they lovingly created and nurtured for months, before the little one is stolen from them.
Just over 9 years ago a spate of unexpected infant deaths occurred at the Countess of Chester Hospital located on the north west edge of Chester, near Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead. Lucy Letby was arrested on 4th July 2018 and in 2023, five years later, at the age of 33, she was brought to trial. She was found guilty of the murder of 7 babies and of 8 attempts to murder babies. She was sentenced to 15 whole-life imprisonment orders, meaning she will never be eligible for parole or early release.
Today, in the midst of the Thirlwall Inquiry looking at the evidence and the testimony surrounding the case, the magnifying glass is now focused on a much broader area than the murderous Lucy Letby. It is worth listening to this introduction by Lady Justice Thirlwall, who also brings the Beverley Allitt case from 1991 in to the frame.
The focus of the Thirlwall Inquiry is on the Paediatricians, the Nurses, the Hospital Management, the Hospital Trust, the NHS, healthcare procedures, undoubtedly politicians and even the condition of the building. The official purpose of the Inquiry is to 'seek answers for the victims’ families and ensure lessons are learned.'
Is this Inquiry a distraction from the murderous intent of Lucy Letby, or does fine tooth combing through events surrounding the murders tell us much more?
We at The Boom Review strongly believe that the convictions of murder and attempted murder against Lucy Letby, the person as she appears on television and in the court, are very likely unsafe. We do not believe that there was any intent to murder infants held by any member of the staff of the Countess of Chester Hospital during the period in question.
We do however believe that these babies were murdered, and that they were not the only victims.
We also believe that the circumstances surrounding the Lucy Letby case are inextricably linked to the circumstances surrounding the Beverley Allitt case. These two cases in particular are of international importance.
In this series we will be taking a deep dive in to the evidence and digging out the information that has so far been missing.