'My disabled son was punched' – how a CCTV error exposed major abuse scandal

'My disabled son was punched' – how a CCTV error exposed major abuse scandal

In a shocking revelation, Glynn Brown uncovered disturbing details about the treatment of his severely disabled adult son, Aaron, at a psychiatric hospital after being informed that Aaron may have been assaulted by staff. Despite being unable to communicate due to being non-verbal, Aaron’s mental age being that of a two-year-old, Glynn was determined to get to the bottom of the situation. The initial explanation that there was no video evidence due to the CCTV cameras at Muckamore Abbey Hospital not being switched on turned out to be false.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) discovered a staggering 300,000 hours of footage from the mistakenly left running CCTV cameras, exposing not only the assault on Aaron but hundreds of other incidents involving hospital staff. Eight years later, no cases have gone to trial, and the hospital remains open without closure. Families of the patients have yet to view the CCTV footage, leaving them to imagine the horrors that occurred to their loved ones in their minds.

Descriptions of the footage obtained by BBC File on 4 Investigates reveal harrowing details of vulnerable patients facing physical abuse, cruelty, emotional provocation, and neglect by the hospital staff. The magnitude and scale of the abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital, dubbed the largest systemic abuse case in the UK, are deeply troubling, and the lack of public awareness outside of Northern Ireland has raised concerns. A public inquiry held from 2022 to March 2025 is expected to present its final report and recommendations soon, but it has faced criticism for the perceived lack of accountability and thorough examination.

As more information came to light, it became apparent that concerns about Muckamore Abbey Hospital had been raised prior to the discovery of the CCTV footage. Reports of abuse had been substantiated in inspections leading up to the discovery, and parents like Catherine Fox had repeatedly complained about the treatment of their loved ones, to no avail. Despite the actions taken by the patients’ families to bring attention to the situation, the lack of accountability and the slow progress in legal proceedings have left many feeling hopeless.

Amid

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