Eighth person arrested in Muckamore Abbey Hospital probe | 57-year-old female arrested in Antrim area | call for Health Minister to urgently launch public inquiry

She is the eighth person to be arrested in the probe.

In a statement the PSNI say: “Detectives from the PSNI’s Public Protection Branch investigating the allegations of ill-treatment of patients at Muckamore Abbey hospital have arrested a 57 year old female this morning Monday 7 September in the Antrim area.

“There are no further details at this time”.

The first arrest was made in October 2019 and there have been 59 precautionary suspensions of staff, but no-one has been charged.

Police have reviewed thousands of hours of CCTV footage as part of their investigation.

Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Colm Gildernew MLA has called on the Health Minister to urgently launch a public inquiry into Muckamore Abbey Hospital and for a bespoke plan to help stabilise services ahead of a motion on the issue in the assembly tomorrow.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said: “All parties have agreed that there must be an urgent public inquiry into Muckamore Abbey Hospital and that there is an obligation on Health Minister Robin Swann to act on this consensus.

“There is an ongoing police investigation into what happened at Muckamore Abbey Hospital; this investigation represents the largest adult safeguarding investigation for the PSNI and it must be allowed to run its course.

“While the ongoing police investigation is complex and extensive, it must not be used as a means to further delay the launch of a public inquiry.

“Sinn Féin will further strengthen the motion by proposing an amendment calling on the Minister to immediately bring forward a bespoke plan to stabilise and support the current delivery of services in Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

“The affected patients and their families deserve justice and to get the truth of what happened. There can be no further delay on this matter.”

ALSO READ: Robin Swann to order inquiry into abuse scandal at Muckamore Abbey Hospital

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