'Hard to see trust not take accountability for failings at Muckamore,' says victim's sister

The sister of a man who was a patient in a hospital for vulnerable adults where some patients suffered abuse said it is "hard to see" the Belfast Trust not "taking accountability for what went on".

Jennifer Dawson said her brother Matthew is "suffering from trauma" from his time in Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

Speaking after the report was published trust's chairman Stuart Elborn, offered "an unreserved apology" and said it takes "full responsibility" for people being failed on many levels over many years.

In light of the "adversarial approach" taken during the process the inquiry touched on how "difficult a task" individual families attempting to challenge the trust must have been on occasions.

Dawson said the report is a "mix of emotions for us all" as her brother "has been identified as being allegedly abused".

"Its had such an impact not only on our loved ones but for us as families.

"We still have questions and some of them will never be answered, we still don't believe that the Belfast Trust are taking accountability for what went on.

"In their closing statement in the inquiry the Belfast Trust barrister maintained that the abuse was rare.

"In the report the inquiry state they are disappointed to find that the Belfast Trust still don't accept that the evidence given by families and patients should be given equal weight to the records held, which is just unbelievable."

Dawson questioned: "Why is our loved ones' voices not being heard? Why is us as families not being heard?

"It is just hard to see that the Trust still aren't taking accountability for this."

Inquiry Chairman Tom Kark KC said the inuiry had heard inappropriate use of restraint.

But many patients had their lives made "miserable" by systematic bullying by certain members of staff whose job it was to look after them.

Northern Ireland's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the report was a watershed moment or how the health and social care system cares for the most vulnerable members of society.

"The system, which should have ensured that the most vulnerable in our society were protected, nurtured and cared for, failed you in that core duty.

"You were let down and for that I am truly sorry."

He has said many of the recommendations set out in the report can be implemented before Christmas.