Cleaver Fulton Rankin is appointed to assist in the evidence gathering for the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry

Cleaver Fulton Rankin is pleased to have been appointed to the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry to assist individuals wishing to contribute to the Inquiry.

The Chair of the Inquiry confirmed in a recent statement, the requirement to have experienced and trained solicitors appointed to take statements from patients, ex-patients, relatives, carers and nurses. This would ensure that best practice would be employed throughout the process and to provide adequate support to the Inquiry.

The Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry website provides further details about the objectives of the Inquiry including that “….it is a statutory inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005, to examine the issue of abuse of patients at Muckamore Abbey Hospital (MAH) and to determine why the abuse happened and the range of circumstances that allowed it to happen. The purpose of the Inquiry is to ensure that such abuse does not occur again at MAH or any other institution in Northern Ireland which provides similar services.” 

Cleaver Fulton Rankin will be taking witness statements from individuals. An expert and experienced team has been selected from Cleaver Fulton Rankin to assist the Inquiry and individuals when compiling sensitive witness evidence.

The team are acutely aware of the importance of ensuring the witnesses are facilitated to deliver the best possible evidence. Furthermore, the team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin has undergone additional specialist training, provided by Professor Penny Cooper, one of the leading experts in vulnerable witness training, to provide the team with additional skills and knowledge to assist in the Inquiry.

Cleaver Fulton Rankin’s expert team look forward to assisting with the Inquiry, in what is likely to be a significant Public Inquiry for Northern Ireland.

The team includes: Directors, Jeanette Donohoe, Kerry McCloy, Michael Black, Michael King, and Suzanne Keenan; Associate Directors, Brendan Martyn, Lorraine Keown and Maria McNally; Associates, Jude Copeland, Rachael Kelly, Rachael Gamble, Helen Smyth and Nathan Campbell; Senior Solicitor, Stephen Masterson; and Paralegals, Ashleigh Wilson and Mansoor Nadhar.

To find out more information about the Inquiry, please visit Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry.