Hospital abuse case: Ex-Muckamore employee denies patient mistreatment

A former employee of Muckamore Abbey Hospital has denied a number of charges relating to the alleged abuse of patients at the hospital.

Naoife Donnelly, 38, of Red Row, Portglenone, County Antrim, was formally arraigned on Thursday.

Muckamore provides care and services for adults with severe learning disabilities and mental health issues.

Allegations of physical and mental abuse of patients at the hospital emerged in 2017.

The hospital, operated by the Belfast Trust and located on the outskirts of Antrim, is due to close in June 2024.

Ms Donnelly pled not guilty at Belfast Crown Court to a number of charges relating to a period in 2017 including wilful neglect, false imprisonment and ill treatment of patients.

CCTV footage

After her plea, a debate began between legal teams over requests made by Ms Donnelly's lawyers for access to CCTV footage from the hospital.

Representing Ms Donnelly, Alan Kane KC, said the ability of the accused to see the evidence against them was a "fundamental principle" and that this CCTV material was "necessary, relevant and critical".

The defence have requested the CCTV footage from eight cameras from 35 separate days during the times when Ms Donnelly was on shift at the hospital.

The defence noted that police had told Ms Donnelly during interview that they had watched it, yet her legal team still had not been furnished with the footage.

The case will return to court on 15 January

Sam Magee KC, for the prosecution, said such a large request would be a waste of time and public funds due to the amount of footage involved, much of which was not useful or pertinent to the case.

"In terms of this trial happening, this would take months upon months to view, much of which would be meaningless," he said.

He added that "we accept there is a need for context and there will be footage required".

"The viewing logs can be looked at for this purpose, if the defence wants to look at those, and request it."

Judge Patricia Smyth said she was surprised that the viewing logs for the CCTV had not been provided already and directed the prosecution to make them available to the defence teams.

The case will return to court on 15 January.