Earlier today, police officers investigating the Lucy Letby case arrested three senior leadership staff at the hospital the neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby worked

Lucy Letby’s barrister has reiterated calls for a full public inquiry into alleged “failings” at the neonatal care unit at the Countess of Chester hospital after three people who were part of the senior leadership team between 2015 and 2016 were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

Mark McDonald, barrister at Furnival Chambers, said: “Yet another press release from the police at a very sensitive time when the CCRC (Criminal Cases Review Commission) are looking at the case of Lucy Letby. Despite this the concerns many have raised will not go away, and we will continue to publicly discuss them.

“The reality is that 26 internationally renowned experts have looked at this case and the lead expert has concluded that no crime was committed, no babies were murdered.

‘Despite this the concerns many have raised will not go away, and we will continue to publicly discuss them’ (Image: Getty Images)
“What is needed is a proper and full public inquiry into the failings of the neonatal and paediatric medical care unit at the Countess of Chester hospital.”

It comes after police officers investigating the Lucy Letby case arrested three senior leadership staff at the hospital the neo-natal nurse worked at earlier today.

The 35-year-old is behind bars serving 15 whole-life orders for murdering seven babies in the space of a year. Letby also tried to kill seven others, including two attempts one one infant, at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Yesterday, police officers arrested three people who worked at the hospital in senior roles in 2015-2016 on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. They have all since been bailed as Cheshire Police’s investigation into corporate and gross manslaughter at the hospital where the killer nurse worked continue.

The probe was launched in 2023 to examine areas such as senior leadership and decision making to “determine whether any criminality has taken place”.

Two of the babies were “deliberately” poisoned with insulin while others were killed or harmed when air of milk was injected into their bloodstream or via a tube in their stomachs on the hospital’s neo-natal unit between 2015 and 2016.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Duet, said: “In October 2023 following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

“This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities.