Grievance panel chair initially viewed Letby accusations as ‘witch-hunt’

A public inquiry heard that the chairwoman of a grievance panel, which investigated a complaint by Lucy Letby, initially believed the accusations against the nurse constituted a “witch-hunt.” Annette Weatherley also informed police that rumors had circulated suggesting a doctor who had accused Letby had “made a pass” at her and been “rebuffed.” Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven additional babies between June 2015 and June 2016, while employed on the neonatal unit at Countess of Chester Hospital. She was transferred from clinical duties to a clerical position in July 2016 after consultants notified managers of their belief that she was connected to unexpected collapses and deaths of infants. The Thirlwall Inquiry, which is examining the circumstances surrounding Letby’s crimes, was informed that Ms. Weatherley was serving as deputy chief nurse at a trust in Manchester at the time. She was appointed as the independent chairwoman of a grievance panel established by the Chester hospital after Letby filed a formal complaint about her removal from the neonatal unit. Ms. Weatherley testified to the inquiry that before the grievance hearing commenced, Dee Appleton-Cairns, the deputy director of human resources at the Countess, asked her opinion on the accusations against Letby. Ms. Weatherley stated she told Ms. Appleton-Cairns she thought it was a “witch-hunt” and added that Ms. Appleton-Cairns, also a member of the grievance panel, responded: “We all think the same, it’s so sad.” The inquiry also heard that during a police interview about the case, Ms. Weatherley mentioned hearing a rumor that Letby had rebuffed “physical advances” from one of the consultants. She told a detective: “It was someone that told me that, I can’t remember who it was when I was there but there was a rumour.” The inquiry had previously heard that Letby denied to a nursing manager that either neonatal clinical lead Dr. Stephen Brearey or children’s services lead Dr. Ravi Jayaram had ever made a pass at her. Karen Rees, who was the head of nursing in urgent care at the time, stated she had questioned whether there was a “personal motive” behind the concerns expressed about Letby by both consultants. She said: “I asked her if either of them had ever made a pass at her. She replied ‘absolutely not’.” Letby was convicted of seven counts of murder and eight counts of attempted murder, including two attempts to kill the same victim, following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. She was sentenced to 15 whole-life prison sentences and has had two appeals against her convictions rejected. The inquiry continues.