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A mother has expressed deep disappointment in the care system after her daughter experienced abuse and neglect at two different care facilities. Alicia Fox was initially a patient at Muckamore Abbey Hospital in County Antrim, where she was admitted at the age of 25. Upon discharge, her family expected her to move into supported living accommodation, but instead, she was placed in residential care, encountering similar mistreatment once again.
Catherine Fox, Alicia’s mother, spoke about the pain of seeing her daughter endure repeated failures within the care system. Having known Alicia as a student and a person with friends, Catherine described how, at 36, her daughter had become institutionalised for a second time, living in a facility offering little independence or choice. The new place, River House in Belfast, was the site of ongoing neglect and insufficient supervision, with records indicating Alicia was subject to 42 safeguarding referrals, all related to neglect. Incidents at River House included lapses such as failing to provide adequate supervision, errors with medication, unauthorised use of seclusion, and ignoring or failing to properly investigate bruising.
In response to complaints from families and staff, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust initiated a serious adverse incident (SAI) review in 2021. These incidents involve events that could have resulted in harm or damage. However, the process was marred by significant delays and a lack of family involvement. Catherine and others were promised the chance to participate in the review but were ultimately excluded, and when the findings were released in May 2025, they did not thoroughly address the safeguarding concerns. Feeling denied transparency and accountability, the affected families sought judicial review, challenging the lawfulness of the SAI review. The High Court later ruled the review unlawful due to its protracted timeline and poor engagement with families, leading to the report being quashed entirely. A fresh investigation by an independent panel is now promised.
Victoria Haddock, a solicitor with Phoenix Law representing the families, highlighted the importance of this legal outcome. She remarked on the troubling need for legal intervention to guarantee proper reviews involving vulnerable adults, especially following the scrutiny brought on by the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry. Haddock emphasized that this case sets an important precedent by demonstrating that SAI reviews can be challenged in courts, insisting that families should not be excluded from investigations concerning their relatives’ care. Meanwhile, the Belfast Trust has acknowledged the delays and has appointed a family engagement lead, working alongside River House on improvements. The repercussions at Muckamore have led to multiple staff dismissals and warnings, with numerous cases still under legal consideration
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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