Latest news with #Antrim-based
ITV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Co. Antrim MLA says 'eveything must be done' to preserve derelict hotel
A local Alliance MLA says everything must be done to preserve the built heritage of Ballycastle. Sian Mulholland says she would love to see a 'historic restoration' of the Antrim Arms Hotel in the comes after a developer submitted planning permission to Causeway Coast and Glens Council to demolish the landmark. The Antrim Arms hotel has stood in Ballycastle's Diamond for generations. But it's been left to crack and crumble over the last 10 building is owned by Maplemanor Properties, which is controlled by Antrim-based businessman Declan Joseph recently made an application to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to demolish the building, which the council says it is currently studying. Stating that any attempt to partially demolish and restore it would cost in excess of £1m. Something the developer says it cannot demolition it says would cost a fraction of the price and minimise disruption to the North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland lives in Ballycastle and is firmly against any demolition: ' I'd love to see it restored to its full glory. 'I've seen the pictures when the Antrim Arms was at its best and I would absolutely love to see a sympathetic historical restoration.'Mrs Mulholland adds: 'You can look around you. You can see what Ballycastle was, generations have come through this town and it is really important, particularly for those rural towns and villages to keep that heart, to keep that heritage. 'That is the soul of any rural village.'Sinn Fein Councillor Cara McShane says if the council allowed a listed building to be demolished it could set a dangerous precedent but she understands the concerns of residents and business owners over the dangers the building poses and any disruption that would be caused from any restoration efforts: 'We would just be opening the floodgates if the planning department allowed demolition at this stage. 'We are also very cognizant of the impact directly on those businesses in the immediate vicinity, of young families around this dangerous and precarious building and also the access issues.' 'The local developer spoke to UTV and said he has engaged extensively with the local council and Department for communities - but that he cannot do anything until both of them decide what to do next. A DfC spokesperson said: 'We understand that a Listed Building Consent application has been lodged to demolish the building. We have not yet been consulted on this application.'
BBC News
24-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Muckamore Inquiry: Call for information on patient resettlement
The Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry panel has called on those with personal experiences of resettlement from the hospital to come panel will use any information given to help inform its final resettlement process, aimed at moving patients to community placements, has been a complex undertaking.A missed June 2024 target hospital closure date was dependent on all the remaining patients successfully moving to agreed alternative accommodation placements in the community. The panel wants to hear from patients, their relatives and carers involved in the process from 14 June 2021 to the present day, regardless of whether or not they have already assisted the willing to share information can do so through small group sessions before the panel; individual attendance before the panel in early June; or by providing a note of their experience to the deadline for people to contact the inquiry is 25 April and can be done via the inquiry inquiry into what happened at the Antrim-based hospital, which provides facilities for adults for special needs, began in June final public hearing of the inquiry took place in early March.A separate major police investigation began in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to for 120 days, the inquiry heard oral evidence from 181 is due to publish its findings later this is thought to be the biggest criminal adult safeguarding case of its kind in the UK.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pain of abuse inquiry families 'beyond our comprehension'
The pain suffered by patients and their families as what happened at Muckamore Abbey Hospital became apparent is "beyond our comprehension", the final public hearing of an inquiry into abuse at the facility has heard. Sean Doran KC, senior counsel to the inquiry, said it was a "sincere hope" that patients and families were given the answers they "rightly deserve". The inquiry into what happened at the Antrim-based hospital, which provides facilities for adults for special needs, began in June 2022. Mr Doran said its aim was to focus on an examination of the issue of abuse, the reasons for its occurrence and the need to ensure it does happen again. The inquiry has sat for 120 days and heard oral evidence from 181 witnesses. It is due to publish its findings later this year. The Muckamore case is thought to be the biggest criminal adult safeguarding case of its kind in the UK. Muckamore is run by the Belfast Health Trust, which last week said patients' families were "undoubtedly failed". There have been also been apologies from the Department of Health and the Chief Medical and Nursing Officers. Nature and extent of Muckamore abuse at heart of inquiry Mr Doran said there had been a "substantial" body of evidence brought before the inquiry panel. That included testimony from families whose loved ones were patients at the hospital, as well as people who worked there. Mr Doran said, in so far as was possible, the inquiry sought to hear from witnesses from "various categories and levels of staff who worked at Muckamore" and with "experience on different wards". In addition to the public inquiry, a separate major police investigation began in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to emerge. Fifteen individuals are facing prosecution, among them carers and nurses. Mr Doran said the fact that criminal proceedings were being carried out at the same time as the inquiry had posed "challenges". However he said the inquiry had liaised regularly with the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service (PPS), and that appropriate measures had been undertaken to protect against the risk of prejudicing criminal proceedings. "The inquiry has operated and will continue to operate with sensitivity to the live nature of criminal proceedings that may conceivably extend to some time beyond the life of the inquiry," he added. Mr Doran further praised the contributions of two inquiry witnesses who have since died - Eileen McLarnon, who was a nurse at the hospital between 1972 and 2016, and Geraldine O'Hagan, who was a social worker for a number of patients' families. Ms O'Hagan gave evidence to the inquiry in 2024 while terminally ill and died less than a month later. "The fortitude that Geraldine displayed in assisting the panel in the face of serious illness will surely live long in the memory of all of us involved in this inquiry," Mr Doran said. He also paid tribute to patients and their families for providing "insights of immeasurable value". "The pain that they have endured on becoming aware of what occurred at the hospital is, quite frankly, beyond our comprehension," he said. "We wish to acknowledge their courage in sharing deeply personal experiences with the inquiry." He said they had provided "insights of immeasurable value to the important work in which the panel is engaged". "They have done so selflessly. Importantly, they have done so for the benefit of the wider public interest that this inquiry was established to serve." Dawn Jones provided evidence about her son Timmy. She said she feels "exhausted" and "a bit upset" but also feels "joyful" that this part of the inquiry is over. She said giving her statement was "a huge thing for me" because she was "speaking up" for her son. Timmy is non-verbal and "can't speak up for himself". Ms Jones said it's "very important for things to change in the learning disability community" and hopes any recommendations that come out of the inquiry will be implemented. In his closing remarks, the chair of the inquiry Tom Kark KC said in giving their evidence, relatives of patients "gave their loved ones a voice they would not otherwise have had". He thanked those who served as witnesses over the course of the inquiry, saying their evidence had been "crucial". Mr Kark added: "We recognise that for many, probably all, the experience of giving evidence was itself very difficult. "Further, for others just listening to the accounts of the patient experience, the evidence which they heard must have been very harrowing for many of them." He also thanked staff from the hospital who came forward to speak about their experience there, including those who were critical of management. "Some were frightened to speak but conquered their fear so that they could come and help us," he said. He said he was grateful for that and that for, some of them, they showed "considerable courage". The chair also said he was aware that some of the core participants in the patient groups did not agree with every decision he made about the manner in which statements were taken, the scope of the evidence or the documentation to be received by the inquiry. "I can only say that I gave careful consideration to every decision I made and used my best judgment to do what I believed to be right, to secure the evidence we needed upon which a proper foundation for our conclusions could be founded." "I have tried to act fairly in relation to every decision I have made," he said. Mr Kark added that the completion of the evidence meant that the panel could now turn to the "serious work" of drafting the report and its recommendations. Muckamore - timeline of hospital abuse allegations Patients' families were 'undoubtedly failed' - DoH Families of Muckamore patients brand inquiry 'a shambles' Nature and extent of Muckamore abuse at heart of inquiry
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry: 'Hope' for patients to get answers
It is a "sincere hope" that patients of Muckamore Abbey Hospital and their families are given the answers they "rightly deserve" following the public inquiry into abuse at the was according to senior counsel to the inquiry Sean Doran KC in his closing statement on the final day of public public inquiry into what happened at the Antrim-based hospital began in June Doran said the inquiry's objective was to focus on an examination of the issue of abuse, the reasons for its occurrence, and the need to ensure that it does not recur in the future. 'Substantial' Since then, there have been 120 sitting days, which have featured oral evidence from 181 Doran said there had been a "substantial" body of evidence brought before the inquiry included testimony from families whose loved ones were patients at the hospital, as well as people who worked Doran said in so far as was possible, the inquiry sought to hear from witnesses from "various categories and levels of staff who worked at Muckamore" and with "experience on different wards".In addition to the public inquiry, a separate major police investigation began in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to emerge. 'Challenges' Mr Doran said the fact that criminal proceedings were being carried out at the same time as the inquiry had posed "challenges".Fifteen individuals are facing prosecution, among them carers and he said the inquiry had liaised regularly with the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service, and that appropriate measures had been undertaken to protect against the risk of prejudice against criminal proceedings."The inquiry has operated and will continue to operate with sensitivity to the live nature of criminal proceedings that may conceivably extend to some time beyond the life of the inquiry," he added. Muckamore is run by the Belfast Health Trust and provides facilities for adults with special week the trust said patients' families were "undoubtedly failed".The inquiry is due to publish its findings later this year.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Muckamore families see 'no good' in system after patient abuse
The health trust that runs Muckamore Abbey Hospital has said it is understandable that the families now see "no good" in the health and social care its closing statement to the public inquiry into abuse of patients at the Antrim-based facility, counsel for the Belfast Trust said relationships needed to be rebuilt."Whilst it's perhaps entirely understandable given how let down those families feel, that they should at present see no good or nothing positive in the care provided to their loved ones by the health and social care system, it is a dreadful indictment," Joseph Aiken KC Belfast Trust has apologised to all patients and their families for the abuse that occurred at Muckamore. Mr Aiken added that "a way must be found to try and rebuild those vitally important relationships which must endure long after the public inquiry has completed its work".He repeated the trust's apology for the said the trust also apologised for the behaviour of other staff who, while themselves did not directly abuse patients, may have witnessed it, failed to intervene and allowed it to go unchallenged."Further, the Belfast Trust acknowledged that the individual failings of the staff who abused patients or of the staff who failed to report and escalate abuse that they witnessed also meant that an important aspect of the governance system in place and operated by the Belfast Trust failed to prevent abuse, failed to detect abuse when it occurred, or when witnessed failed to escalate the fact that it had occurred," he of those instances, he added, were "systems failures" within the organisation.
