Judge denies he was asked to advise Letby hospital because he is a Freemason

A justice has denied helium was asked to springiness ineligible proposal to infirmary bosses implicit concerns astir caregiver Lucy Letby due to the fact that helium is simply a Freemason, a nationalist enquiry has heard.

The Thirlwall Inquiry into events surrounding the crimes of Letby heard that some Judge Simon Medland KC and the Countess of Chester’s erstwhile manager of firm and ineligible services, Stephen Cross, are members of the organisation.

In April 2017, erstwhile Cheshire Constabulary serviceman Mr Cross instructed past transgression barrister Mr Medland connected behalf of the hospital, astatine a clip erstwhile the constabulary had inactive not been called successful aft advisor paediatricians told executives 10 months earlier they feared the neonatal caregiver could beryllium murdering babies.

Earlier this week the enquiry heard of “rumours and hearsay” astir a Freemason transportation of a “number of high-ranking radical successful the infirmary and elsewhere”.

Neonatal portion objective pb Dr Stephen Brearey said helium understood Mr Cross had risen “quite quickly” from a inferior position, and queried whether the infirmary had followed immoderate processes “in presumption of acceptable and due candidates for enforcement roles”, and that helium heard helium had been demoted from a elder fertile successful the constabulary unit to a constable.

Dr Brearey said radical astatine the infirmary had the content determination mightiness beryllium “deals going connected down the scenes”.

Questioning Judge Medland connected Thursday, Richard Baker KC, representing families of Letby’s victims, said his clients had concerns astir the matter.

The justice said: “There was nary masonic discourse to my instruction.

“As it happens Stephen Cross is simply a Freemason and arsenic it happens I americium a Freemason. We are not members of the aforesaid masonic lodge, we are not adjacent friends.

“I tin guarantee you and anybody other who is acrophobic with this enquiry that I person been wholly candid astir that.

“To my caput it’s of nary much interaction oregon relevance than for illustration if we had some had an involvement successful crown greenish bowling oregon religion doorbell ringing.

“He instructed me, I assume, due to the fact that helium thought that I would beryllium capable to bash a bully job.

“I americium not alert of anyone other connected the infirmary committee astatine each who is simply a subordinate of the Freemasons, either a antheral oregon a woman.”

Mr Cross has yet to springiness grounds but successful a connection to the enquiry helium confirmed his Freemason connections successful Cheshire.

Judge Medland added Chester was a “small city” and helium knew Mr Cross “a little” but they were not idiosyncratic friends.

He said: “We person ne'er been to each other’s houses oregon thing similar that.”

Letby was redeployed to the hospital’s hazard and diligent information bureau successful July 2016, aft the medics raised their concerns, but infirmary bosses opted to committee a bid of reviews into the accrued fig of deaths connected the portion successful 2015 and 2016, alternatively than spell consecutive to the police.

Judge Medland told the enquiry helium understood the hospital’s enforcement squad wanted to cognize successful April 2017 if determination was capable grounds to interaction the police.

He went connected to urge that “as things stand” helium did not spot determination was capable accusation that mightiness springiness emergence to tenable grounds for suspecting a transgression offence had been committed.

He recommended that Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Wenham, the past constabulary typical connected the section kid decease overview panel, should beryllium informed astir the matter.

Mr Wenham, present retired from Cheshire Police, met consultants and executives aboriginal successful April and advised the infirmary to formally petition constabulary involvement, which happened the pursuing month.

Giving grounds connected Wednesday, Mr Wenham said helium did not deliberation helium had ever met Mr Cross.

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders aft she was convicted astatine Manchester Crown Court of murdering 7 infants and attempting to execution 7 others, with 2 attempts connected 1 of her victims, betwixt June 2015 and June 2016.

The inquiry, sitting astatine Liverpool Town Hall, is expected to beryllium until aboriginal 2025, with findings published by precocious autumn of that year.