Thirlwall Inquiry report publication pushed back

The final report from the public inquiry which examined how serial killer Lucy Letby was able to commit her crimes on a hospital neonatal unit will not be published until “early 2026”.

The former nurse, 35, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.

Lady Justice Thirlwall, the chair of the inquiry, had previously said she hoped her findings would be released in November.

However, a statement issued on the Thirlwall Inquiry website said publication was now expected next year.

Lady Thirlwall is expected to write to those criticised in the final report in September and the document is due to be completed by the end of November, according to the statement.

“The report will then undergo copy editing and typesetting, ahead of publication in early 2026,” it added.

Letby, from Hereford, lost two bids last year to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, is considering evidence presented on Letby’s behalf from an international panel of medics who claim poor medical care and natural causes were the reasons for the babies collapsing.

Lawyers for the families of Letby’s victims have dismissed the panel’s conclusions as “full of analytical holes” and “a rehash” of the defence case heard at trial.

Cheshire Constabulary is continuing a review of deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neonatal units of the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women’s Hospital during Letby’s time as a nurse from 2012 to 2016.

A separate probe by the force into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital also remains ongoing.