Staff Excluded Form Care Home While PSNI Investigate Abuse Allegations

Four staff members at a residential facility in Co Antrim have been have been excluded from work and an investigation has been launched over allegations about their conduct.

Muckamore Abbey Hospital provides care for vulnerable adults with intellectual disability, behavioural or mental problems.

A spokesperson from the Belfast Health Trust said: "Following concerns identified in relation to the conduct of a small number of staff in Muckamore Abbey Hospital, Belfast Trust has placed four members of staff on precautionary exclusion from work while a full internal investigation is undertaken.

"The trust is also undertaking an adult safeguarding investigation with the PSNI."

Detective Chief Inspector Tracey Mageean said: "We can confirm that we are working with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust regarding a number of allegations into ill treatment of patients at a hospital facility in Antrim.

"This is a live investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment any further."

Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Pat Sheehan said: "If any ill treatment of vulnerable patients is found to have taken place, that cannot be tolerated.

"The safety and welfare of patients must be central to health provision and so it is important that these allegations are thoroughly investigated."

(CD/JP)